They've had a cough for over 3 weeks now

My kids both had a cold that lingered and lingered; my DS is just about over the cold now and my DD has a runny nose every once in a while, but her cold is almost over too. But they've been coughing for more than 3 weeks now. I brought them in over a week ago to see the pediatrician; he said the cough was due to the cold and he saw signs that their cold was almost over. He told me the cough and cold should clear up very soon...but that was 10 days ago and they are still coughing. I'll call the pediatrician's office again tomorrow, but does anyone have any idea about this? Do you think this may be something more than just a cold? By the way, they don't have a fever, they're eating and playing, but the cough does wake them up at night. Also, the cough hasn't been getting any worse or any better over time.

thanks,
thea

 

When they cough is it a dry or wet cough?

 

Did I read somewhere that coughs that linger after a cold for extended periods could be a sign of asthma?? Maybe you want to ask your pedi about that. It think that asthma isn't necessarily always wheezing, it could start with lingering coughs.

Michelle

 

My nephew has a lingering cough now too and from talking with my sister we think it's the dryness in the air now from the colder weather and heat on inside. Have you tried a humidifier, hot steam from the shower, lots of fluids? When my girls are sick, I try to cut back on milk, and I give them chamomile tea and diluted juice. I use Bolthouse Farms C-Boost for immunity support, and I think it really helps. Oh yeah, I also try to stay away from saline drops and the nasal aspirator. I think that makes things worse.

 

Hi,
Thanks for all your responses. Laura asked if the cough was wet or dry, it was wet for a long time, then last week it started being more of a dry cough, but lately it's now back to being a wet cough (especially from my DS who does not have a runny nose). I haven't given them any meds. We don't have a humidifier, but I'm thinking we need to get one.

Thanks again,
thea

 

Sarah got coughs like this last winter -- she was basically coughing for 2-3 months and the doctor kept saying it was just a cold. Well, it sort of was, because she didn't have pneumonia or anything really bad, but he finally diagnosed her with Reactive Airway Disease (which is somewhere between asthma and a fancy way of saying that she gets a lot of coughs :huh: ) and put her on albuterol & Flovent. It has made a huge difference -- her cough cleared up after 3 days on the albuterol, and then we kept her on the Flovent until spring and she never got such a bad cough again.

We are already on it for this winter, because she got a cold a week ago and was starting to cough a lot -- he said we could go on & off the albuterol as needed (only when she's coughing) but stay on the Flovent all winter.

It doesn't necessarily mean she has asthma (many kids grow out of this), but we will definitely be keeping a close eye on her. Anyway, you might want to ask about it. It is quite normal for coughs to last a long time after the cold is gone, but if it's been weeks and weeks, the inhaler might help.

 

We've gotten over it almost recently too. We are all still coughing after almost a month. It's just a really bad long lasting cough for us. If it's super productive and they are coughing stuff up, you might just have it all checked out.

 

Abigail is just getting over a cough that lastest over a month. I noticed just today that she's not coughing as much. Our pedi said he thought it was related more to allergies and drainage, basically from the change of seasons. They have both had runny noses, but I also noticed today that I haven't had to chance them around with a tissue all day today!!

 

Mine have had a cough for over a month too. There is an upper respiratory virus/viral cough going around here that is lasting 6-8 weeks according to the doctor. Mine are back on their allergy meds due to the snot and that is helping alot. Also vicks vapor rub at night and a humidifier in their room seem to help. I hope you all feel better soon!