My son is 5 years old. He has a cough that doesn't want to stop. We are desperate. His doctor (we took him to an allergy and astham specialist) says he believes he has asthma but they woun't be able to test him until he is 6. He won't be 6 until September.

He is now on Albuterol, its not helping at all with the coughing. He coughed all day yesterday, all last night and still is coughing and right now its almost 1:30pm. I don't know what else to give him. His doctor is insisting on the Albuterol which we have been administering to him every 4 hours using a nebulizer. Nothing changes after he finishes using the nebulizer. Absolutely nothing, I don't understand.

Does anyone out there, have any suggestions on what I can give him to help with the coughing???? At this point I would do anything. ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a new member, I just found this site and decided to write in, so please...like I said any suggestions.

My son is such a little trouper, he is playing and doing all the normal things, he doesn't seem to be sick, just the cough. Its persistant and consistant and I mean CONSISTANT...and I don't know what to do, apart for praying for him I'm about to go out of my mind because I can't take hearing him cough the way he is coughing right now. Please, please any advice at this time would be highly appreciated.

God bless and thank you!

Merryl

Is it a dry or wet (mucus producing) cough? If it's wet it may be a respiratory infection in which case you should go to the doctor. If it's dry it is more likely to be the result of asthma but if that's the case the albuterol should be helping. Mainly keep an eye on his chest and overall breathing. If he starts to weeze, gasp for breathe, or show signs of laborious breathing i suggest bringing him to the hospital right away because an asthma attack can quickly become severe and life threatening. Also have him drink plenty of water which will help loosen up whatever is in his chest.

The cough is very dry. He has no other symptoms except the constant cough. No wheezing for sure. The albuterol is doing nothing for him. Nothing at all.

If he is not wheezing or having trouble breathing then it may just mean that he just has a chronic cough, in which case although it may be annoying it's not life threatening. You can still go to the doctor and ask more about what may be causing the cough, but the albuterol may be not working because his bronchial tubes are fine and fully open. Is the cough fairly silent, wheezy, and shallow or more deep and loud? If it's deep and loud that usually means theres good air exchange and he's breathing fine, if it's shallow you should consider going to the hospital or doctor. A shallow cough usually means that air is being trapped in his lungs (with asthma it's hard to get air in, but even harder to get out) so that could be more serious.

His cough is very loud and sharp. I really don't think he has a problem with air flow. Its just the coughing. He coughed so hard he vomited not once but 3 times, he isn't eating and I'm afraid to give him anything because he will bring it back up, besides he doesn't have much of an apetite. The doctor doesn't seem to be worried at all, as a mom its different. I can't stand to hear him coughing any more! Its horrible not being able to help.

Its the persistant coughing that is so worrisome. Not knowing what' s going on...and no one being able to give me any answers! its so frustrating.

Merryl

If the cough is loud and sharp, could it be croup? That would explain why the albuterol isn't working. If it is a croupy cough, some steam therapy and a teaspoon of honey should relieve the urge to cough. If not, maybe ask his doctor if he should be on prednisone in addition to the albuterol. The combination of the two drugs did the trick for my daughter last time she had an asthma episode with a cold. Hope these suggestions are helpful. I know how powerless you must be feeling! If he was seriously ill, he would be acting lethargic and struggling to breathe.

Thank you violetsmom13,

Its such a horrible feeling to not be able to do anything. The cough was the worst I've experienced in my life. He vomited 4 times from coughing. I was so desperate I was starting to think about taking him to the ER.

I called his Doctor AGAIN...they gave him so prednisone and pulmicort. He is sleeping now finally, and the mediction seem to help, the cough has subsided although its not totally gone, but it looks like it will!

Its been a long, long loooooooooong day. I just pray that tomorrow it is gone! He is coughing still but just a little bit, I have faith that it will go away all together tonight.

Its horrible, to see your child suffering and not be able to do anything. We are mommy.... we are 'supposed' to take care of them!

Thanks to the other person who posted a reply here for me, and all your suggestions, they were very helpful and appreciated I can't remember your screen name and I am so drained right now, I need to go lay down and see if I can catch some Z'z.

Thanks again and God bless!

Merryl

I feel your pain!! My son is 6 and suffered from asthma/chornic cought since he was 12 months old. We use pulmicort 2x daily as a preventative (3 years) and albuterol as needed. He's been sick for a few days and the albuterol doesn't seem to help. He's also on prenisone. One thing that has helped is I've turned my heat down in the house from 72 to 68 degrees and also put a humidifier in his bedroom. Good luck...this seems to be a bad year for asthma

If the medications are beginning to work, it very well might be asthma.

Other causes of chronic dry coughs could also be pertussis (whooping cough) or acid reflux. They can test your son for the pertussis if you think that might be the cause. I had reflux for years without it being diagnosed because the cough was my primary symptom.

if the albuterol isnt helping then it is not asthma related, he just has a bad cold.....it just has to run its course.....try vicks rub....