Son Has Been Coughing Since July 09! & No Answer from Doctors

If he has not been screened for allergies yet, bring him to an allergist for a full workup (indoor, outdoor, foods). Maybe that will provide a clue. Good luck!

My cousin had a similar issue. In the end, it was the detergent the daycare was using that he was allergic to. Switching to Charlie's Soap took it away.

I would also get a second opinion but have you tested his for food and environmental allergies (not just asthma)? Think about anything that has changed since June/July and see if that plays a part. He could even have a mild allergy to the meds he is taking for the coughing/sinus infections. The ENT should have given you something to go with not just a no its not adenoids! I know I cough a lot (with post nasal drip and mucus) and I have both food and environmental allergies that I have to be wary about (and each season brings different ones). The neti pot/spray really helps me clear out my sinus cavities and I do it daily - once in am and once in pm and no meds are involved. Do you see an asthma and allergy doctor? I love mine and he has given me great but simple advice on managing my allergies Things like allergen pillow covers, not opening windows during my worst seasons, steam showers and baths before bed to clear off the contaminates I have gotten during the day, and more! Good luck!

Sounds familiar. My daughter coughed and threw up phlegm for the first 5 years of her life. It seemed like she couldn't do anything without coughing and ended up with many ear, sinus and bronchial infections. It took one new doctor to walk into the room while she was doing her usual croup coughing fit to look at me and say she had asthma. I then took her to an allergist and although they found no allergies whatsoever but she has the asthma where her body over-produces mucus and she can't get rid of it. Then started all the different meds - allergy meds to dry he out and inhalers. Room vaporizers didn't work. The allergy meds did absolutely nothing and I even felt that the numerous rescue inhalers didn't work either. The ENT we saw was nice but just said to give her sailine and allergy nose sprays, which didn't work.
For 2 years the allergy/asthma specialist fiddled with different rescue and steriod inhalers. This year (she is now almost 7 years old) we finally tried ADVAIR - a long acting steriod inhaler and a miracle. She can run, play and do whatever, plus sleep through the night. Although I am still nervous about the inhaler warnings, I can totally see the difference it has made in my daughter. So there is our saga, if you can glean any ideas from it. We were lucky because we found a pediatrician and an allergist who were willing to work together. Check out things with an allergist/asthma specialist. Good luck and my thoughts are with you!

Has your son been tested for allergies?? Sounds like he could be allergic to something... could you possibly have mold in the house? Do you have pets? My son has a nebulizer and inhaler as he has similar episodes. He was acutally hospitalized for bronchiolitis and possible pneumonia, and the Dr. said he has sensitive lungs and we be predisposed to these episodes, although they said he was too young to officially diagnos with athsma. We do give him the inhaler now, when he has a cold or allergy attacks, on an as needed basis, and it helps a lot.
Also, maybe he has a sensitivity to dairy... not an allergy, but a sensitivity. My niece had this (although it was when she was an infant) was very mucusy/coughed a lot so was put on soy formula/soy products until she was 2... now she can have dairy products.
You might want to check with an allergist...

Hi, How stressful for you and him!

This might sound bizarre but does he drink alot of milk. Milk adds to mucous. maybe stop giving him dairy for a week and see if that improves things.
Good Luck
M.

My son gets frequent sinus infections but it does not sound as severe as your son. Can you get a second opinion from another pulmonary doc and another ENT?

Hi M.,

I too have had chronic sinus infections which are NOT fun! I was on antibiotic after antibiotic. I started seeing a chiropractor for a neck and back problem and he saw I kept getting these infections. I am on natural supplements now with him as well as he does a sinus chiropractic adjustment and I am much better! Let me know if you'd be interested in meeting or talking with him.

Good luck,
J.

Recently had a similar issue with my 1 year old --lasted 3 1/2 months. He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. He was on a nebulizer with a bronchiodilator for over a month, then they put him on a steroid too. They did test and rule out RSV and pneumonia, but he just couldn't get better. After much exasperation I started searching for some natural remedies to at least make him more comfortable. I started ventilating the house when I could(even though it was cold)sometimes just one room at a time with that door shut. I consistently used a vapor steam humidifier in his room with a tiny bit of vicks vapor liquid in it. I completely took him off of all milk products. Within 5 days of stopping the milk, he was sounding much better. He is on milk now no problems. I know some disagree but I think the milk does increase mucus. Hope some of this is helpful. Hope your little one is better soon.

In addition to what others have said, you might consider a chiropractor. I don't know how much I buy into it, but after a visit last week for back pain, he did something to my neck and said I would have a lot of nasal drainage and feel better, and I actually did. Chiropractors are also good about knowing nutritional triggers.

As a supplement, it might be worth investigating.

if he is not seeing a pediatric asthma specialist, i would take him there. if he is not on inhaled steroids, it sounds like he should be. I have 3 kids, 2 are asthma kids and all 3 of them seem to have allergies. I also found this elixir at a health food store called Herbs for Kids Echinacea and Eyebright. Eyebright is supposed to be good for sinus stuff. i give it to my kids 2 times a day at the first sign of a sinus infection and it seems to be helping. last winter all 3 of them were on and off antibiotics all winter. so far this winter no one has been on antibiotics. Also, my daughter had a lot of congestion in her nose (all year round) and would choke on it and snore terribly. we took her to an ENT and she had her adnoids out. she has been much better since. maybe try a second opinion with the ENT and use a pediatric one. i know of a good one in NJ-she has gotten a lot of awards. Good luck. A.

I strongly agree with the previous poster...get another opinion. Something is not right. No matter what it is, allergies, sinus infections or whatever, this child should not have to suffer this long. I hope you find someone that can help you very very soon. I have a wonderful pediatric pulmomologist! Email if you need info!

Are the specialists you have seen pediatric specialists? You could try going to the nearest children's hospital to find a pediatric ENT, allergist or pulmunologist. My one year old daughter has a different problem with narrow nasal passages (always has a slightly runny nose and colds are extra difficult). She was in St. Joseph's children's hospital when she was a newborn and sees a doctor there as an outpatient.

The only other thing I can think of is getting a really good air filter for your house (or maybe 2, one for his room and one for the main part of the house). If it is airborne allergies it could help.

I went thru a very similar problem with my daughter when she was around 2 years old. Her ENT said put her on all kinds of different meds that did nothing to help. Then he said she needed tubes in her ears to drain the fluid behind them. 3 times we went thru this and it never helped at all. Finally, when she was about 4 years old, I switched ENT's and right away he said it was her adenoids. He removed them and she never had a problem after that. Maybe it's time to try a different doctor.

I assume you have been to an allergist. If not, start there and
just keep searching.

Have you had him allergy tested? Maybe he is allergic to something either in the air or food related.

I brouoght my son to a homeopathic practitioner and the chiropractor for same issue when he was 3. I also stopped the dairy- this helped immensely. I only gave him rice milk instead of cow's milk (even tho I used to give him organic, it didn't matter - the discontinuounce of milk showed big improvement as did the homeopathic pellets I gave him over the course of about 3-4 months as recommended by practitioner)- it was calcarea iodata 6X - 1X per day 2 pellets. I bought them ordered through Willner Chemists in NYC. His adenoids & tonsils went down and his previously scheduld surgery for adenoids & tonsils to be removed was no longer necessary. I also really was pleased w/ the ENT he was out of WEstchester - Dr. DAvid Merer. So The 2 biggies were the stopping of nearly all dairy products w/ the exception of occasional aged cheddar cheese & pizza 1X per week. Milk products can cause so much mucous. Even tho my child had allergy testing he did not show allergic to dairy - but he definitely was sensitive to it I know now.