My Daughter Has a Never-Ending Cough...(Need advice)

[Nishu]

Do you have an allergen cover on her mattress? I'd put one on and then wash all her sheets and blankets in hot water with no soap or fabric softener just to make sure something's not aggravating an allergy as she sleeps. I had problems as a kid and I know it was because of my mattress, and now I start coughing if there's fabric softener on my sheets.

But I do think it's about time to take her to the doctor.

This is what I have... a lovely post nasal drip. My sinuses are clear and I can breathe without difficulty but drip..... drip.... drip....

I have it about 8 months out of the year so it is an allergic reaction to something! And since it crosses so many seasons it is probably a reaction to several different things. I do take an antihistamine when it gets aggravating enough and during the dry months I'll use a humidifier in the bedroom.

I had this really, really bad for a long time. I gave up dairy and it went away after a few weeks, but not before it got a lot worse. It's gross.

[janal14]

Nasal steroids (like nasonex, but I use Flonase - the smell of nasonex made me throw up) can really help. I don't know if the doctor told you the best way to use it, but when I switched to my current doctors instructions, I saw definite improvement.

When you are spraying, put the tip of the sprayer into the nose, and then point it towards the inner corner of the other eye. So in the left nostril, point towards the inner corner of the right eye, and vice versa. Try to get her not to 'snort' the medicine up as you spray - that just leads to it running down the back of your throat and not helping. Immediately after you spray, pull the tip out and pinch the nostril shut for ten seconds.

Most prescriptions call for two sprays per nostril each day. My doctor recommended, and it worked better for me, when I do one spray per nostril in the morning and one at night - same amount of medication, just split into two doses instead of one.

Hope that helps...and hope that your DD starts feeling better soon!

[PlainCash4]

@ Stinkbug, i agree. The neti pot works wonders.

[Libby]

QM - sorry to hear your lil one is not well I think its allergies b/c of our weather - it goes from nice & sunny to rainy and wet. I believe its fall allergies. Sound crazy but my allergies go from ragweed (summer) to leaves & dampness/mold spores in the fall. My leaf allergy started back in late September.

Do you have windows open? Allow indoor shoes to be worn throughout the house? This may sound like a pain but what about indoor/outdoor clothes? Do you have a HEPA filter on your furnace or an air purifier in the most common areas (ie lv rm where everyone hangs out the most) BTW You can just fun the fan on the furnace to cycle the air in the house.

The nasonex is a steroid so long term usage is damaging. My allergist said to take it to calm my symptoms to get relief from the constant cough attacks that were non productive (phlegm) but once I had a break after the calming period that I should quit it cold turkey.

Im pro neti pot - perhaps its time to start teaching DD how to use it or do it together so you can supervise and control how its done etc. I started using it this year and my allergies are no where hear as horrific as they have been the past five years. (even landed me in hospital a few times) This lil $13 thing has saved me tons vs buying decongestants and prescription allergy meds. During the high season I do it daily or twice a day but now with the cooler weather - its only as needed.

Hope DD gets well soon

[shoiji]

If she is old enough or when she is I would encourage her to use the Neti-pot. It helps to clean out the nasal passages of any irritants. I get allergies in the Spring and Fall. I still need some medication but the Neti-pot helps alot. Now I use it all year long. In the winter time as soon as I lie down I get congested. With the Neti-pot I no longer have this problem. Also when I have a cold I will use it and am amazed how I can still breath threw my nose while having a really bad cold.

Also try to watch what she eats. If I eat to many peanuts or milk I get more congested. I notice that I tend to eat different foods at different times of the year.

[ladykemma2]

have her take benadryl at bedtime. it will controll the allergies.