heyfever or asma

[kazzag]

my girl aged 3 has had a on going cough for 2 years,so bad at night she was being sick but bringing up flem most of the time,she was sent for a chest xray,and nothing showed up,so we was sent away being told it was probley a post nasal drip,which has no treatment.she as got all the classic signs for heyfever and does take tablets for this but the cough doesnt seem to disapear.thakfully her playschool is understanding but the cough is interfering with her sleep as i am often having to change her sheets in the night,has anyone got any ideas as the drs dont seem to listen to me and as a single mother working nights its starting to drag me down and as you can imagine seeing you girl in pain is bad enough.

[Scarlett]

Doctors don't know anything. I would go to a homeopath. You could also try eliminating dairy/wheat from her diet and then gradually reintroducing it. It sounds like she is allergic to something. If it is just at night it could be dust. Make sure her room is really clean and well ventilated and see if that helps. It could also be bed mites, so try changing bedding. Make sure her bedding is 100% cotton too, as man made fibres can sometimes irritate sensitive skins. (Skin is inside lungs as well as outside!)

[TopKat]

Sounds like it might be asthma to me - my sister was just the same. As well as keeping down the dust in her room and keeping it well ventilated, make sure she hasn't got a feather pillow or duvet as these may make it worse. And if you don't see an improvement, go back to your doctor - you have a right to be heard and your daughter shouldn't just have to suffer!! If it is asthma, she can be helped. They could test her peak flow (basically how hard she can breath out) and try various medications to see if they help. Steroids sound dreadful, but in low doses taken by inhaler, they don't have any side effects and are very effective.

[Amara]

My daughter has asthma - hers manifests mainly as a flemmy cough, it usually worsens when she has a cold or hayfever. Doctors are cautious and reluctant to treat it in very young children as it sometimes disappears as quickly as it came. It is better not to put very young children on steroid inhalers as this can cause more problems, but it is difficult as a parent to cope with this at times. I would certainly agree with the other posts re dairy products (which are mucus producing) and bedding, which contain dust mights. A homeopath may also be able to help. Love and light - Amara xx

[mimififi]

This sounds exactly like asthma to me. Go back to the Gp and see a different one preferably. Tell them you have alot of astma in the family (even if it's not actually true) and could you please have a peak flo meter to start analysing her lung function. Normally you do this 3 times a day. After about 2-3 weeks of daily readings, you go back to the doctor and it should show a variability in lung function if asthma is present. If you still get no joy ask to be referred to the hospital pead and explain that it is affecting her behaviour, sleep etc etc. Sometmes you just have to go back and not leave till you get what you need.
Keep on with the anti histimine also. You sometimes have to be taking this for a while before it starts to make a difference. Also don't stop taking it when the pollen count is low, it might not only be pollen she is allergic too, it could be many things. Also try a dairy free diet and cut wheat and gluten too. These are known triggers for bronchial dysfunction. illiminate as many soft furnishings also, turn curtains into blinds, take teddies out etc and put mattress/pillow protectors on the bed. Also, raise the head of the bed as this might help too.

[mimififi]

just as the other posters have suggested.

If this is asthma, it needs to be recognised. Many people believe the steroid inhalers to affect children's growth, however, this is not true. The reason poor growth is found among asthmatic children is because of the reduced oxygen levels. If you have permanantly low O2 levels, then your growth will be affected.

Hope this helps, and I do wish you well. My son had this for about 4 years now he is being treated for asthma and is not only healthier but suffers far less emotionally aswell.
good luck