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What Causes Constant Cold And Cough In A 14 Year Old Adult?

Posted on Wed, 23 Mar 2016

Question: Hello. My son is 14 yrs old and has swollen glands a lot with constant cold symptoms like sinus drainage & a little bit of a cough. He also broke his nose when he was about 8 yrs old, but we didn't realize it at the time, so it healed a little out of place - don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. He is athletic and has energy. Doesn't really seem to have other symptoms, but this has been going on for about 2 to 3 years now. His pediatritian said when this all started that it was just a part of going thru puberty, which he was at the time, but should these symptoms have lasted this long? I'm afraid that there is something that could be deeper than what is on the surface. Thanks for your help.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Make him gurgle with lukewarm water

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Most often cough and cold in children are due to viral infections. Some children are more prone to catching cold than others. This occurs due to low immunity. Cold depresses our immunity. Tonsils are lymphoid organs which increase in size in case of tonsillar infections which occur in low immunity. If the frequency of catching cold is more than 7 times per year for 3 years or more, surgical removal of the tonsils needs to be done. Else, it can be left as it is as tonsils regress with age. It is unlikely to indicate something more severe.

Previously, when he was undergoing puberty, your pediatrician had probably thought it to be related. This is not his fault and it is ok to have lasted this long provided that the frequency is not too high. If more than the indicated number, it is better to get surgery done.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (15 hours later)

Thank you for your response which is very helpful. Do you think his previously broken nose could cause him some congestion/breathing problems also? He probably will have to have it rebroken and set when he is older to fix that?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Would not predispose to frequently catching cold.

Detailed Answer:
I am glad that you found my response helpful.
The previously broken nose could have given rise to deviated nasal septum (DNS) which can cause respiratory obstruction (not necessarily) and snoring at night but would not predispose to frquent catching cold. If you want to fix it, there is a surgical procedure available for the same and you need to talk to a ENT surgeon for the same.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar