I have two-year-old twins,

DS was diagnosed with asthma a year ago but has only thus far had one asthma attack. He has had two bouts of croup.

DD has neither suffered croup or asthma.

The last couple of weeks DD has been coughing in the early hours of the morning. The cough is very dry. Today I noticed she also coughed during her midday nap. She has not been coughing when awake during the day.

Each time she coughs it sounds quite frightening as if she is choking, so I rush into her room to check her and she is fine and fast asleep.

What could it be?

Allergy? Teething? virus?

It’s starting to worry me.

My son was diagnosed with asthma after developing a similar cough about 18 months ago. It did take a few months to diagnose him as he had no wheezing or anything and only coughed when he was asleep. It wasn't until he developed unexplained fevers that we started to get somewhere. Good luck, I hope your DD feels better soon.

Hi,

I would talk to the Dr about it.

Myself and my girls all have asthma and coughing (especially at night or laying down) can be symptom of our asthma sometimes. Whenever anyone starts coughing like that I know it's time to start back on the preventatives again.

You might find elevating the bed a bit might help so she isn't lying down flat.

I have no experience with asthma, but as PP's said, best to see your GP about that.

It could be what I always call 'night bronchitis'... the cooler night air, and/or laying down seem to trigger these dry coughing spells. You could try a cough medicine, childrens pain relief with codeine in it, a humidifier or perhaps lozenges before bed to settle it down.

It could also be related to nasal drip, where the secretions from the back of the nose trickle down the throat when laying down, and cause a tickly cough. Like PP suggested, prop one end of the mattress up to help alleviate this and perhaps a childrens cold medicine to dry up the secretions.

Talk to your pharmacist, and GP about it... good luck!

Definately go to the doctor about it. As soon as I saw the thread title it screamed Asthma...



Ditto mumto3princesses

it is worth chatting to a GP about it, my DD has chronic asthma and has a shocking cough at night ALL the time. We find elevating her head in her bed helps as well as a vaparisor.

Thank you for your replies.

I was hoping not to hear "asthma" although this is my concern as DS has asthma.

I have an appointment at the RCH asthma specialist next week for DS, so perhaps I will mention DD's coughing to the pediatrician.

I understand it is difficult to diagnose asthma in young children though.

I will try elevating DD's mattress tonight.

Thanks again!

Our DS2 (3yr) is the same and he has been diagnosed with asthma. His cough however starts whenever the temperature drops and days/nights get cooler or if he is in cold airconditioning. He was diagnosed with asthma at about 18mth. Summer is fine but so far he has ended up in hospital every winter with breathing probs...we are hoping that this winter will be better .

All the best with your appt.

My DD had a night cough for a long time after a bad winter one year where she had 7 colds, thanks to Playgroup.

Our Paed ended up prescribing DD an double course of Rulide an antibiotic and this got rid of it.

Oh dear, I'm thankful I opened this thread. My 2yr old DD had croup about 6 weeks ago, which turned into a chest infection. She is now over that, but still has this lingering night/early morning cough that just won't go away. Think I better take her to the GP! Hope your little one is ok.

Anni xx

Wow! I am glad I opened this thread too - DD (nearly 2 1/2) has also had a cough (that almost turns into a dry retch) when she is asleep/napping...

It night happen rarely in the day but is predominat at night....I didn't even think of asthma as it is not in the family - I just put it down to general cold for her age etc

We had the flu vax today and I forgot to mention it to my doc - might make another appointment..

Don't forget about croup... when DD had this, her awful cough often turned into dry retching/ vomiting, it was so sever... poor thing.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/b...il?opendocument

Thanks dixiebell

I am pretty sure it isn't croup = she has had that b4 and it was awful. The cough doesn't seem to bother her at all and she is not unwell...its quite odd

DD1 had this problem at 2yrs. Dr said it could be an indicator for asthma. She put DD onto asthma preventers which fixed it within a few days (had to keep the meds going for a few weeks after that). Needed to use them again within the next year about twice. But then since then (now 5 ) she thankfully hasn't needed them.

DS was like this when he was 8 mths old and it went on for a few months. It was horrible. He would start coughing at about 10 or 11pm and often would cough so much that he vomited. I tried everything - taking him off dairy, elevating the head of the cot, hiring a vaporisor. Took him to the doctors and got him tested for allergies. Nothing worked.

After a few months he got a temp and I took him to the doctors and was told that he had an ear infection. This was unrelated to the coughing but they gave him an antibiotic to help with the ear infection. That night he stopped coughing. I couldn't believe it. He must have had some virus thing that was just hanging on and on and the antibiotic for the ear infection nipped it in the bud.

It's a real mystery!

DD had a high temp two nights ago and threw up three times (she generally vomits whenever unwell). I gave her panodol and lots of fluids and in time she was feeling almost 100% again. The next day you wouldn't even know she was sick.

The next day for me however I ended up in bed with flu symptoms and Dh stayed home from work to mind the kids, as I was so sick.

Last night DS also had a high temp and generally was unsettled. Today we are all well, apart from me feeing completely washed out.

The coughing from DD has eased off, as I haven't heard a cough from her in two days.

I will still enquire about it possibly being asthma though, as her twin brother has asthma.

I'm thinking this incident may have been a lead up to some mystery virus? Not sure really? Either way, if what I had was a mild flu I think I would like to get the kids vaccinated for the flu because it felt terrible for me! And with the risk of asthma that worries me.