Wet Cough for Months - at My Wit's End!!

My son had a severe cough and could not sleep at night when he was about 6 months old. The doctor gave him an inhaler and it worked really well. I think that he needs to go back to the doctors and try a different medication.

Have you tried Children's Zyrtec? It really helps to dry everything out. Ask the pharmacist or your Ped for dosage info. If that doesn't do the trick, then you might want to go to a pediatric pulmonologist.

Are you sure the cough is in his lungs? My son had a wet cough for months and months, but it was really in his throat, not lungs. He had a constant sinus drip. They never could figure out whether it was allergy or back to back to back colds (he tested negative for allergies on a blood test). He was taking Allegra during the day and we would give him Robitussin Cough and Cold, which was the only thing that actually helped. He eventually got over it after about 6 months, but it was brutal while it was going on.

Xopenex.... is used for Asthma and breathing issues.
It does NOT.... stop or address mucus.
It is typically an inhaler.
It is a Bronchodilator. Meaning, when airways are constricted or inflamed... the Xopenex helps to open up the airways to help breathing.
It is used to prevent or relieve the wheezing, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness caused by lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

THUS... it will not help, mucus or mucus secretions or stop mucus production.

Kids this age, do not know how to spit out mucus.

Flonase... is a nose spray.... for stuffy/runny/itchy nose problems. It works by preventing and decreasing inflammation (swelling that can cause other symptoms) in the nose. IT IS NOT A MUCUS MEDICINE.

Flonase... is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by preventing and decreasing inflammation. Hence, helping nasal congestion/stuffiness.
But it does not stop.... mucus.

Budesonide is a glucocorticoid steroid for the treatment of asthma and non-infectious rhinitis (including hay fever and other allergies).

So... these medications... are NOT mucus medicines.
Thus, it is not working... to reduce or stop your son's mucus problems.
And, each has side-effects.

Thus, your Doctor(s) needs to, address the ORIGIN of his mucus.
To me, your Doctors are not addressing his allergies nor his mucus issues.

I have Asthma... hence I know what these medications are and what they are for.

You best take him to a Specialist, an Allergist or Pulmonary Doctor.

Try a pediatric pulmonologist... when my son had a cough for months our ped referred us to one and they were able to get it under control.

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My daughter had a nasty cough, was constantly clearing her throat and occasionally complained that she couldn't breathe. She seemed to cough worst after eating and also after physical activity. We thought she had asthma so we took her to a asthma/allergy specialist. She was tested for asthma and they also did a skin test for several different allergens. No asthma or allergies. Turns out that she has acid reflux and she's on medication for it now. The coughing has pretty much stopped, the throat clearing is getting less frequent and she hasn't complained about not being able to breathe since she started her medicine. Maybe you could mention the possibility of acid reflux to your doctor.

I went through the same thing. I was diagnosed with bronchitis that turned into asthma and prescribed Singulair. The singulair took away the cough and wheezing like gangbusters....but be careful if you go that route b/c it made me sleepy and I had mood disturbances....basically I was irritable and mean. Now I am getting allergy shots. It has taken a few months but I am seeing dramatic improvement. I'm so sorry you are going through this and Good luck to you.

I am surprised your pediatrician has not perscribed Singular. My daughter had a nagging cough especially as the day wore on. Her coughing improved within 30 days of taking it. kept her on it for about 4 months. She is doing fine and has been for the last year.

I would go to a pediatric allergist to have him tested to see if there is something else causing his cough. He could be allergic to a certain food or plant or chemical. Do you use dye free detergents? Do you use dryer balls instead of the smelly dryer sheets? Do you wear perfume? Do you bathe him with fragrance free soap? It could be many different things and an allergist can help figure that out.

I personally go for acupuncture to help my allergies. I know your son is young but that might help him too.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

my daughter was like that till she got put on pulmicort everyday. this has helped soo much with her breathing! when my daughters allergies are crazy i dose her pulmicort (before bed), albuterol inhaler during the day, and i give her benadryl durring the day also. this works great for us.

Sounds like allergies to me. My granddaughter has many allergies and asthma. She sees an allergist. When one antihistamine doesn't work he prescribes a different one. At her last visit he said he was going to rotate antihistamines so that she didn't go thru a period when one wasn't working.

I think she was taking Singular at 2 but I'm not sure. Two may be too young. She did have to stop taking it because it negatively affected her moods.

I suggest that you just need to keep in touch with the allergist who will eventually find what works for your little one. It takes time and trying different treatments to find what works.

Have they checked for acid reflux. Acid reflux can come all the way up and spill over into your lungs which can cause the wet cough. I'd talk to your doc about it.

I would make sure to have an air purifier in his room. Try some over the counter stuff like zyrtec which is safe for kids who are two years and up. The steorids will only work if they have asthma,pnemonia or bronchitis. I would say it is allergy related. You need to go to a pediatric allergist if you have not done so already. if you have pets suchs as cats or dogs those may trigger his allergies. it is hard when they are young because they get postnasal drip and they can not blow their nose. warm showers and baths before he goes to bed and when he wakes up will help with the congestion. good luck

Have you investigated food allergies?

I don't really have enough information from what you posted (eg did they actually do an allergy test and tell you what to avoid, or did they just tell you it was allergies because they could not find proof of infection?). I used to care for an adorable little boy who also constantly had a "wet cough". He was also quite pale and often had diarrhoea. It took a really long time to get a diagnosis but, eventually, it was discovered that he was intolerant of gluten (so could not eat anything made from wheat) and the "wet cough" was due to Cystic Fibrosis. Please have your son assessed by someone familiar with Cystic Fribrosis. I'll pray that I'm completely wrong! God Bless