Can 15-month olds have allergies?

My boys got sick about 5 weeks ago. After 2 weeks they both went onto the Omoxycillan (sp?). Samuel and Luke both got better - no more runny noses and seemed to feel a lot better. But Luke hasn't been able to get rid of the cough. It's been almost 2 weeks since he finished the meds and he is still coughing through the night, choking on flem. I thought he was finally going to kick it this weekend, but last night was horrible - he was coughing really bad, congested and now he has the running nose back. My pedi checked him last week and he looked fine - no bronchitis, no pneumonia, no ear infection. I'm going to take him to my allergist tomorrow. Anyone have any experience like this? Could he have allergies at this young age? My pedi won't prescribe a decongestant.

 

Our ped said kids that young really can't have seasonal allergies, because it takes a couple of years of exposure to develop a reaction. But did he have RSV or any kind of respiratory infection as an infant? That can make them more susceptible to coughs that just won't go away -- it can take a few years for their lungs to really recover.

Also, you said your ped checked him last week but he seems to have gotten worse since then. IMO that warrants another call/trip to the ped -- even if he had no infection then, he could have developed a new one.

I know it's frustrating that the ped won't prescribe anything, but (at least as far as our ped said) those drugs don't really work on very young children anyway -- they don't have any receptors for them until at least age 5-6. Plus, there is the safety issue that no one really knows how drugs affect babies and toddlers. Having a toddler with a bad cold and cough is terrible, but in most medical opinions, not worth messing around with potentially dangerous drugs unless the child's life or long-term health is at stake.

:hug: I hope he's feeling better soon!

 

Sure - they absolutely can. I know some pedi's say that seasonal allergies can't start that early... but our pedi told us to start with Children's Claritin when my girls were just under two and showing signs of seasonal allergies. We tried, but it didn't do anything, so we switched over to homeopathic remedies for juniper allergies and have been great ever since.

 

We had my DS at the Dr 3 times over the course of 8 weeks. His cough was terrible and just wouldn't go away. He did get diagnosed with RSV and I was told the cough would last the longest of the symptoms and it did. I bet it lasted a good 8 weeks before it slowly disappeared, nighttime was terrible listening to him hack all night! I hope your little man gets better soon!

 

Thank you everyone for the info. RSV? Nope, he didn't have that.

I called the daycare to check in on Luke, and they said he didn't want to play or anything, he was just laying in his crib. So I ended up calling my pedi and brought him in. Still nothing. But pedi felt that since he wasn't getting better, and actually getting worse, that he should go on antibiotics again. So, we will see. For now, i've canceled the allergist appointment, and I'll see how he does. Thanks again.

 

My daughter (5) and I have had this cough that just won't go away. I do not have allergies and hopefully she doesn't. :hug: Good luck!

 

Ok. A few different questions here to comment on.
1. It is possible for children to develop allergies to dust, mold, pet dander as early as 12 months but not seasonal allergies until 2-3. However, allergies would manifest more with itchy red eyes, clear runny nose, sneezing, etc.
2. RSV is just one of many viruses out there, but they all cause cough that can last for several weeks after the illness goes away. If the illness is entirely viral, antibiotics aren't going to do anything.
3. You said the magic word to explain all this: DAYCARE! Children in a setting with other kids average 10-12 upper respiratory illnesses in a year. Cram those mostly in to the winter months and you see just what you're experiencing. They are not sick with the same thing for 5 weeks. Rather, they have had 3 different viruses whose symptoms each last 10-14 days and overlap.
4. Decongestants do not work and are dangerous and for the most part have been taken off the market for children under 6. The best thing to do is saline drops in the nose and suck out really well, run a humidifier and encourage them to sleep a little upright. For children over 1, honey is a safe natural cough suppressant.

Hope they feel better soon.

 

I know they can have allergies to dust and such at a young age. Unsure about seasonal though, however William has eczema and I have noticed it gets WAY worse during the change of season. Right now with it warming up and lots of rain here, he is itching like a mad man and sneezing like crazy, itchy red eyes too. My guys are the same age as yours. What you are discribing doesnt sound like allergies though, more like a virus that is taking its time to clear up. Hope he feels better soon.

 

My girls have been on zyrtec since 12 months. You can/ could really tell when they miss a day. We have since switched to claratin since they have a chewable and liquid meds make jessy choke. My girls were put on singular at 2 or 3 as well

 

All my kids have been started on allergy meds by the time they were 2, my oldest was about 18 months when we started him. Unfortunately they all appear to have inherited my allergy issues. My oldest is 9 and we took him to an allergist 2 yrs ago and had him tested, he's allergic to almost anything that can be airborne, dust, pollen, trees, grass, mold, mildew...etc. My other 3 kids don't appear to be as bad as him yet, but as soon as spring hits, we load up on the zyrtec :headbang:

 

Slugradd1998 - yea, i am thinking it is Daycare. Although I have allergies, that is why I was wondering if maybe they have them.

Twinxesmom - who diagnosed your girls and prescribed allergy meds?

Danibell - very interesting. I guess i will have to wait and see with mine. I'm allergic to all of the above

Thanks!!

 

Allergy tests arent really accurate on infants. I myself would advocate it unless you were verifying a food allergy. It's not the most enjoyable thing in the world. Their pedi "diagnosed" them and the allergy meds did work after a trial and checkup

 

Thank you - that is very helpful information!