persistent cough - continue to self-treat or visit ped? UPDATE #7

[acupuncturemomma]

DD had a minor case of the sniffles about three weeks ago (maybe even four) and now has a lingering cough. It is not severe--meaning, she does not hack constantly. However, the cough sounds deep and "junky". She is also seems a bit run-down, and recently has sounded stuffy in her sinuses again. Nothing comes out her nose at all; I can just hear it in her voice when she speaks.

We've done various herbal cough formulas, and SA of and on.

How to know when to consider taking her in to the ped? I wonder if it would be helpful to have a professional listen to her lungs?

For the next day or two I have decided to dose heavily with SA and try another round of this herbal formula.

Any input? Also, how long can I give her high-dose SA? Maybe I haven't stuck that out long enough...

[Panserbjorne]

I'd say it would be helpful. Once you know what's going on it's easier to address it. I have plenty of other suggestions, but they'd vary depending on what's actually happening. It will give you more peace of mind moving forward (I'd think) to have a better idea of what's happening. You can treat just about anything naturally, or at least support, but it's much easier if you know what "it" is. Allergies? Asthma? Bronchitis? Post nasal drip?

It's probably simple, but in my head that's usually worth knowing.

[acupuncturemomma]

Thanks for the reply--I think you're right. That's usually how I use doctors--for help with diagnosis. Then I treat on my own!

Also, DD had a stomach ache this evening (seemed almost cramp-like)--she's had a few stomachaches lately, which is new for her. I attributed them to carsickness or nervous stomach, but since they coincide with the cough...???

[Panserbjorne]

it's quite possible it's an underlying condition, something like allergies or the like. Based on what you have posted one easy thing to do while you're waiting to go to the doc is kali mur cell salt for the chronic cough and run down state alternated with calc phos for the belly aches. I also think everyone should do castor oil packs and this is no exception. Hope she feels better!

[es1967]

My Ds also has a junky cough too. I know most of his friends have had this lingering cough. Ds has not had his for long although he did have a different very mild cough/cold a few wks ago. Like your daughter he does not
cough much at all. At night he was coughing more but now hardly at all. He did complain of a belly ache once. I have not sent him to preschool b/c when he does cough it does not sound great. I'm going to try the cell salts too.

[nicky85]

Could it be a dander allergy? My husband has an allergy to dander (and an undying love and devotion to all canines). About six months ago, he developed a really bad cough. Deep, hacking, junky and frequent. My son started coughing some too. We did a deep clean and went to Wal-Mart and got allergy covers for our pillows and mattress. (Total cost for a queen size mattress and four pillows was about $200.) I've made sure to consistently sweep, vacuum, brush the dogs, and switch out the towels and bath mats and DH and DS have been doing fine. Don't know if that's any help, but I thought I would put in my two cents. Good luck!

[acupuncturemomma]

Took her in to the ped today--of course, once I made the appointment yesterday her cough seemed to improve. It is way less frequent and seems to be drying up a tiny bit, but is still pretty deep and "junky".

Anyway, ped heard just a bit of crackles deep in her lungs, which she said can be attributed to bronchitis or pneumonia--or which can also be viral. She prescribed an antibiotic (Zithromax) just in case.

So, shoot, now I have a bunch of questions (as I decide whether to fill the prescription or not!) DD has an extreme fear of the ped, so just getting her to let them listen to her lungs was a total ordeal. I was too flustered to think of my questions at the time!

-- Any harm in waiting it out longer to see if things improve?

-- How nasty is the antibiotic? I do like the idea of getting her well ASAP, but am still hesitant to use it.

-- Wouldn't SA knock out any infection as well as the Zithromax? Maybe I need to give SA more consistently. For how many days can I give it in high dose?

-- Could this be pertussis?

[HRJ]

Originally Posted by acupuncturemomma

Took her in to the ped today--of course, once I made the appointment yesterday her cough seemed to improve. It is way less frequent and seems to be drying up a tiny bit, but is still pretty deep and "junky".

Anyway, ped heard just a bit of crackles deep in her lungs, which she said can be attributed to bronchitis or pneumonia--or which can also be viral. She prescribed an antibiotic (Zithromax) just in case.

So, shoot, now I have a bunch of questions (as I decide whether to fill the prescription or not!) DD has an extreme fear of the ped, so just getting her to let them listen to her lungs was a total ordeal. I was too flustered to think of my questions at the time!

-- Any harm in waiting it out longer to see if things improve?

-- How nasty is the antibiotic? I do like the idea of getting her well ASAP, but am still hesitant to use it.

-- Wouldn't SA knock out any infection as well as the Zithromax? Maybe I need to give SA more consistently. For how many days can I give it in high dose?

-- Could this be pertussis?

My son and my husband have both had pneumonia and/or bronchitis. With my son, he didn't get a chest Xray b/c it was late and the day after Christmas. So it could have been bronchitis OR pneumonia. But he had a very high fever. My husband did have pneumonia last fall that was confirmed by Xray, and he had a fever as well. Both were in bad shape when they had it - for them it both started as a cold and then BAM! My son was lethargic and it was very scary. My husband had a cold and then it was like he had the flu (but no aches) - high fever, in bed, etc.

I don't think pneumonia is anything to play around with, but I sort of am doubting whether your daughter has this if she doesn't have and has never had a fever. I don't know how you would feel about a chest Xray and say you don't want to do the antibiotic until you know for sure. Then you have the radiation of the Xray to deal with.

We haven't done a Zpack for DS yet. I thikn I had it for strep throat once - it wasn't that horrible for me.