Sick Kids - Huntington,IN

have you looked into allergies? my daughter was having the same problems and they prescribed her Claritin and its done wonders for her. good luck!!

Hi A.,
After many years of a barking cough and several trips to the family dr, I had my son tested for allergies. They did the whole grid thing on his back. He was allergic to over 18 things out of the 50 they tested him for. He now is going through allergy shots and it is helping him tremendiously. It's worth a try to have her tested by an allergist.

Perhaps they have allergies. Try going to an allergist such as The Allergy Center or Ear, Nose and Throat. Both located in Fort Wayne IN.

Have they tested for asthma? My 6 year old was just tested a few months ago to rule it out and it turned out he has it. It's pretty mild and the only symptom is coughing after/during running around. It tends to be worse in the summer because he's more active and in the winter he's more prone to upper respiratory infections and wheezes a bit. We bought a nebulizer (I think that's what it's called) so whenever he has the first sign of a cough we have him do a breathing treatment (he holds the 'wand' in front of his face while watching TV) and it prevents it from getting worse.

If its constant can you get a second opinion or ask why she is so prone to getting infections? I would look into an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) doc and see if she might need tubes in her ears or her tonsils out. She probably shouldnt be getting sick that often and your pediatrician should be at least a bit concerned about the frequency!
SZ

Does it seem to happen more in damp or cold weather? If so, there is a good possibility that she has bronchial asthma. I would talk to her Dr about this and maybe even getting a second opinion. They may give her a breathing treatment machine with albuterol. This will help tremendously but not eliminate it completely.

Good Luck!

Take her to an allergist and have her tested for allergies and/or asthma.

Hi A.! Have you had her tonsils and adenoids checked out? I know they don't take them out like they used to in the past, but that was the root of my son's problem. He had chronic sinus infections (every 6-8 weeks), and was constantly on Augmentin. I fought with the doctors, and they finally gave in and took them out. He was like a whole new kid! He's rarely sick now! I wonder if maybe her tonsils are so large that they are close to touching and possibly make her feel like she has to cough. Strepp can also be caused by a tonsil problem. I say check it out. My son was six when he had them removed, now he's 11-1/2 and much, much healthier. He also sleeps much better! Good luck!

you may want to have her checked for allergies. it could be something in the home that is making her sick and it can be taken care of by an allergist.

My son gets coughing spells in certain kinds of weather. He got croup alot when he was younger and I have a neubulizer in which I give him albuterol which seems to make the coughing stop. You may want to seek a second opinion since it could be croup or asthma.

Please try to take a step back and not immediately assume that this is psychological, or something your step daughter is doing on purpose.

It's entirely possible that your step daughter has undiagnosed food allergies. Also, if she's been on antibiotics often, she might well have a systemic yeast overload. It would be a good idea to check for those.

If a food allergy is the culprit, the other infections will continue until you remove the source of the allergy from her diet. Wheat and dairy are two of the most common food allergies to look for from what I've heard. I am allergic to both of them, and wasn't diagnosed until I became a grandmother! Please check into this so your step daughter can have a chance to live a healthy life.

I would have her tested for asthma and allergies. Sometimes having allergies makes a person more suseptible to infections as well. A chronic cough could very well be a sign of asthma and/or allergies. Try having her take supplements to boost immunity, such as echinacea, elderberry, and zinc and make sure she eats lots of fruits and vegetables. Also try limiting dairy and wheat, possible food allergens or sensitivities. Eliminate each for 2 weeks and see if it helps. Good luck!

You can't "get" a kid to stop coughing if there's a reason for it. It sounds like she may have allergies and/or some asthma going on. I'd get her to an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor to have her checked for allergies. And speak to her pediatrician about possible asthma, even if just a mild form of it.

If you are willing to take a natural route. I have some great information I can share with you. I have many friends that have tried this and it has helped their children. My now 20 month old son has never been sick enough to take to the doctors. One night he was coughing throughout the night, I quickly learned to give him LiquidLea. It has never happened again.
If you guys go out to places where there are many other children, I would take their clothes off at the door so they don't bring the germs in. If possible give them a bath or shower. MY friend works at the YMCA and she does this with herself and son who are exposed to so many kids.
My e-mail is ____@____.com

Hi A.,

Sounds like the coughing is from drainage. Constant congestion would cause ear infections and coughing. She may need ear tubes if the ear infections continue. But to stop the cough...stip the drainage. My boys had constant problems with bronchitis, ear infections, and pnemonia a few years ago. It was because they were always congested. I started them on a nutritional beverage called MonaVie, and they have never been healthier. MonaVie provides 13 servings of fruits and vegetables in just 4 ounces of juice. It is truly amazing how much their (and my) health changed when they started getting good solid nutrition in their diets. You might try it to see what happens.
A.

Try a humidifier in her room. You also need to check out allergies/asthma. Once they either pinpoint something or rule them out they can try other things. You also live an area that has a lot of sinus issues. Tell your doctor you want to be proactive on what is causing the illnesses/cough. My daughter has had simliar problems and we have had to buy mattress and pillow covers for her. SHe is on allergy meds. And we do a lot more to try to keep her healthy.

consult the doctor again or get a second opinion. make sure he is checking her record to see how many times she has been in and how many meds she has taken.

My son has the same problem. I took him to an allergist which explained to me that it was post nasal drip that was causing congestion in his chest which led to the constant cough. He told me to get him some over-the-counter cold and sinus medicine (Dimetapp or Triaminic) and it cleared it up in about two days.

I've also tried the Claritan- D but I don't think it worked as well on his sinuses which is the big problem. Hope this helps

A.
The first question I would ask you is what kind of cleaning products do you use in your home and then have you read the labels on them lately. This can be causing many many health problems in our children. Next are they on any kind of "good" supplements? not gummy bears or the other otc children vitamins that are advertised but something you can count on for quality. check and compare what you are using. you can also hit my website at livingwithsolutions.com to help you. I am a shaklee rep and there is product gaurantees and satisfaction gaurantees on everything.
Much Luck in your search
S.

Have you had her tested for allergies and asthma? I have both and coughing is a symptom of asthma, although most people don't know that. If fact, by the time I get to the serious coughing I need to be on my way to the ER. Also, is there a possiblity of mold being present in your home that you don't know about? There are certain environental factors that can generate the effects your daughter is having. You may need to have your house tested.

Hi A. - My son at age 2 was coughing alot and mostly at night. I took him to an allergist and they suggest that we encase his bedding and pillows. It made a huge difference. We also took the carpet out of the bedroom and put in wood flooring. Its eliminated the coughing.

Best wishes!

I would deffinately get a second opinion. Is there another doctor in the same practice that she could see? My 8 y/o does the same thing, but we discovered that she has some mild asthma. She has to take Singulair every day, and that keeps her from coughing. You may also want to look into the possibility of her having allergies. Either way, I wouldn't let them treat her for the same thing again until you get another opinion.

Allergies are the most likely culprit--even if she is actually getting sick, the allergies could be making her more susceptible. Dairy and gluten are the 2 biggest problems--eliminate those completely and see if she doesn't feel better. If not then allergy testing would be a good idea. It could also be sensitivity to toxic chemicals--dryer sheets, so called air fresheners(which are very toxic), cleaning products etc. i am assuming of course that no one is smoling around her--that would be the first thing to eliminate if it is happening.

I would tlke her to an allergy dr. She could have asthma or allergies or both. All those things you mentioned (strep throat,ear infection...) are all associated with asthma & allergies. They would be able to test her and treat her with medication. IF the allergies are not that bad the allergy medicine could only have to be used seasonal. My 11 month old has allergies & my 10 year old has asthma.

Pray over them. What day did God creat sickness? He didnt. Also look into a product called bio-choice from Legacy for life. It's a vitamin immune support product. My kids take it daily with milk, tastes great, they never get sick. You can order it through me too if you want.

Sometimes a chronic cough is due to allergies or asthma. Check it out w/her doctor. If this is been going on for awhile, I am surprised your doctor hasn't already suggested this.

Take her to another doctor and get her checked for asthma as soon as possible. She probably has allergies as well. They should be checking for strep by the throat swab and if it comes up negative, they know she does not have it. If they are not doing this and giving her antibiotics anyway, they are just trying to make you feel better and get her out of the office. Make them take you seriously and go to another doctor if they don't. If they won't do anything, also check with your health insurance about seeing a specialist (ear nose and throat doctor or allergist), especially if you don't need a referral. Good luck.

sounds like allergy drainage. Take her to an allergy doctor for testing. They'll be able to determine what is bothering her and how to proceed. It can get better. My daughter has many allergies, and has been getting weekly shots for 15 months. We just had her check in with the doctor this week and her sinuses has almost no inflammation anymore...having been almost completely swollen when we started. It's been a long process, but I see so much improvement. She still gets sick every few months, but she used to be sick every month or so, and would be unable to get out of bed with even a sinus infection. Good luck!

Does she have allergies? around smoke or pet dander? I know when i am around those things i cough frequently too...just a thought
good luck!

have you thought about taking her to a ent to get her tonsils and or adnoids out.... she might have stuff draining down

I just got an email that said for deep persistant coughs, rub a thick layer of Vicks Vapor Rub on your feet and put socks on. It claims to stop the coughing within 5 minutes, with a 100% success rate. I haven't had to try it yet, but it's worth a shot if it can give her some relief.

For one...kids DON'T ASK TO BE SICK!! Another, Bronchitis is CAUSED due to SOMEONE SMOKING!!! Kids becoming sick all the time is due to majority of someone SMOKING in the house! If the smoker steps out of the house it'll reduce the chances of her becoming ill or any other child. If no one smokes around her or what not, than she has to be hanging out w/smokers or doing it herself. (I know that all this sounds like assumpitons), but my dear, these are true facts. I had bronchitis quiet a few times, due to the fact I was around smokers/cause I was smoking. Another, my oldest daughter was a strep carrier (yep)..and she would constantly have strep throat, especially after the age 6yrs. We had her tonsils taken out due to several reasons, but that was one main reason. Ever since than she hasn't gotten sick as often and hasn't had strep. But we also quit smoking. My middle child suffered from ear infections all the time, due to smokers! Coughing is not something anyone can control, its a natural reflex...stating that there is an irritant in the throat or in her membranes. Ear infections are also caused from being around smokers, going out with no cover on ears, ears not being dried/cleaned, or coming down with something else. The meds won't help if someone she's around is smoking. You know, if the smoker washes up and change shirts, pull hair back, she won't be effected as bad. Also, have them check her out for allergies/asthma. What I do for my kids, when they are complaining that they have a tickle in the throat, sore throat, or not feeling well along with coughing, is mix a tablespoon of honey with a squeeze of lemon (for coating), for a drink (like tea) mix the same amount of stuff (Lemon & Honey) with water. It helps out a lot. Also, if you have her Gargle with salt water (water has to be pretty warm)Tell her not to swallow the water if she can help it. Good Luck!

Hi A.-

constant coughing can be a sign of asthma. And, asthma usually gets worse when you have an upper respitory problem. Ask the doctor to test her for asthma

Have you taken her to an allergist? Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean there aren't things to trigger allergic reactions. My "primte-time" allergy season runs from March through October, and I'm also allergic to pine trees. SO just when my "allergy season" was ending, we'd get a pine tree for christmas, and I couldn't breath but for January-February, and sometimes not even then. We didn't realize it until I was about 22.

Just a thought....

Take her to a allergist and possibly a ear nose and throat Dr. they will get to the botom of it.

Do you have pets?
She might have a pet allergy.
We did not know our daughter was allergic to cats until she was almost a teenager.
She used to cough at night.
I would have her tested for allergies.

Have her tested for allergies

Hi A.,
I would like the other ladies said, possiably take her to a different dr for a second opinion if you are able to do so.
To help her in the mean time with her cough, rub vicks vapor rub on the bottoms of her feet. Put her socks on her. It should help her cough to give her some releif but it won't cure her symptoms as far as whatever the problem is, will just help quiet the cough.
Have you tried something over the counter like claritin?
Anyways, hope the vicks helps give her some releif for now.
Have a happy thanksgiving.
S. :)

Hi A.,

My twins had a lot of infections when they were younger. I had about 70% decrease in sinus infections after taking them to my chiropractor for something called NET (neuro emotional technique). I have a few other helpful solutions too, but a bit too much to write out. If you would like more info, please just call me ###-###-####. MY boys are now 14 and enjoying good health most of the time, with the exception of the occasional cold in winter.

Warm Regards, L. Pieratt