Follow up with pediatrician, see a specialist, or leave it.

[Philly Mom]

In October, DD2 (age 4) had croup for the first time. In December she had a horrible cough again that sounding stridor like the first night but then was just a deep cough. By the end of that week she also had nasal discharge. She was in good spirits the whole time but would have coughing fits. Fast forward to now. The cough is still here. I took her to the pediatrician about two weeks ago. She only heard wheezing when she laughed. Without laughing or coughing, there is no wheeze. The ped gave her a pro air inhaler which we have been doing twice a day. Her cough has not stopped. It happens when she is very active and at bed at night. Tonight, She probably coughed for 5-10 minutes while settling down and is still coughing from time to time even though i think she is asleep. Last night I continued to hear her coughing even when I was falling asleep. Do I go back to the pediatrician or do I go to a specialist? If a specialist, which one? I thought I would call the pediatrician tomorrow but I normally end up talking to the nurse. It is hard to talk to the actual doctor. So WWYD?


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[KpbS]

Well, getting into an allergist might take some time. I would want her to have a pulmonary function test to see if she needs some additional meds to get better. Has she coughed consistently since Dec til today or intermittently (just with a cold or other illness)?

[Philly Mom]

Well, getting into an allergist might take some time. I would want her to have a pulmonary function test to see if she needs some additional meds to get better. Has she coughed consistently since Dec til today or intermittently (just with a cold or other illness)?

The cough has been consistent. I don’t think she has had a day without it. It has been two months.

I think I can get an allergist appointment pretty quickly actually. I can call tomorrow and I think i could get in within 10 days. We are gone for the long weekend. Does the allergist test for pulmonary function?


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[PZMommy]

I’d call the pediatrician. Getting in to a pediatric pulmonologist can take quite awhile, so you might want to start the process for an appointment. Our allergist was a waste of time, but children’s hospital required us to see one and have a full work up before they would schedule us with the pulmonologist. We ended up getting fast tracked due to numerous hospitalizations, so we only had to wait a month, vs the 8 months we were initially quoted.

Is the inhaler she is on now, albuterol? If so that is a short lasting one. She may need a more long lasting inhaler.

[PZMommy]

The cough has been consistent. I don’t think she has had a day without it. It has been two months.

I think I can get an allergist appointment pretty quickly actually. I can call tomorrow and I think i could get in within 10 days. We are gone for the long weekend. Does the allergist test for pulmonary function?


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Our allergist did not. He just tested for any allergies that could be causing all of his breathing flare ups. He was under the age of two, so they couldn’t call it asthma at that point and just reactive airway disease. Once he turned two they could change the diagnosis to asthma.

[connor_mommy]

Our allergist is also an asthma specialist. I would call ask about the lung function test when you make the appointment.

[KpbS]

Our allergist is also an asthma specialist. I would call ask about the lung function test when you make the appointment.

Yes, ours also. She was very thorough when we were in most recently.

However just typing this out, I think I would go back to the ped tomorrow, explain your concerns and ask for antibiotics. Bronchitis can hang around a long time or it could possibly be walking pneumonia. Two of my DC both had similar long lasting coughs that were eventually diagnosed as walking pneumonia (via chest x-Ray).

[PZMommy]

Our allergist is also an asthma specialist. I would call ask about the lung function test when you make the appointment.

I’m glad others have had better experiences with allergists. Ours was a waste of time. My DS was 10 months old who already had 5 different week long PICU stays due to RSV and brohncilitis, and our allergist has not a clue what to do with such a tiny baby. It was very frustrating. It wasn’t until we saw the pediatric pulmonologist at our children’s hospital that we got help and answers.

[Philly Mom]

UPDATE: we went back to the ped. She ordered a chest X-ray, which came back normal. We go to the allergist on Monday. The cough is still there. So annoying.


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[hillview]

My son gets a cough (from a cold) that then becomes asthma (wheezing) and coughing. It won't go away until he gets an inhaler. I'd keep after it -- wheezing is not good. Glad you are going to an allergist. Did the doc talk about asthma at all?

[Philly Mom]

My son gets a cough (from a cold) that then becomes asthma (wheezing) and coughing. It won't go away until he gets an inhaler. I'd keep after it -- wheezing is not good. Glad you are going to an allergist. Did the doc talk about asthma at all?

She didn’t. At rest, the doctor doesn’t hear a wheeze. Originally, I think she thought it was leftover RSV. Now, she thinks the allergist might have the answers or at least better tools for diagnosis. Kicking myself for not scheduling the allergist quicker.


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