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What Causes Dry Cough In A Child?
Question: My daughter, aged 10, has been suffering from a dry, hacking cough since before Christmas (2016). She was sick prior to contracting the cough. We have tried everything to get rid of it and finally will get imaging done tomorrow and have her checked for whooping cough (unlikely but good to rule out). Lungs sound clear according to three doctors already. What worries me is that she has headaches that are accompanying the coughing and stomach pain, which she describes as "someone punching her in the stomach." We've been told to see the pulmonologist but I am at a loss right now as to what to do. Back in November, she took cipro while we were abroad for a UTI. Could the cipro be a contributing factor?
Brief Answer:
Ciprofloxacin is not a contributing factor
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I understand your concern.
Ciprofloxacin could not be a contributing factor for this hacking cough.
I have a few questions for you -
Questions:
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she runs around or plays with other kids?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Kindly get back to me with answers so that I can guide you better.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Ciprofloxacin is not a contributing factor
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I understand your concern.
Ciprofloxacin could not be a contributing factor for this hacking cough.
I have a few questions for you -
Questions:
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she runs around or plays with other kids?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Kindly get back to me with answers so that I can guide you better.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
She has been coughing non stop since before christmas in december so about 2 months. Prior to this episode, allergy medication would address this issue, the cough, which in the past we have associated with allergy. She is under the care of both an allergist and pediatrician. My concern is that despite the use of all allergy meds at hand that she is still coughing non stop. And yes in this caae exercise exacerbates the condition but generally has no effect on her breathing
Brief Answer:
Looks like moderate persistent asthma - she needs inhalers
Detailed Answer:
Hi...by what you say this looks like moderate persistent asthma. I feel she needs to be started on inhalers.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly alternative management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and not asthma is 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Foracort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks. Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Foracort. The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs. Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement. The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Looks like moderate persistent asthma - she needs inhalers
Detailed Answer:
Hi...by what you say this looks like moderate persistent asthma. I feel she needs to be started on inhalers.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly alternative management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and not asthma is 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Foracort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks. Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Foracort. The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs. Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement. The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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