9 year old with persistent cough

Ella108 · 20-03-2025 02:20PM #1

Hi, 9 year old has developed a persistent cough about 4 weeks ago and is coughing few times a day and few times a night. We've kept her home but has missed so much school. She's otherwise active, but so torn she can't go to school for weeks. I'm very stressed and sleepless, obviously , doctors have seen her and prescribed steroids and antibiotics I'm actually wondering why won't they do more tests to see what causing it? She's never been coughing ever like this before, I thought she'd improve within few days I called hospital but they said to go again to gp etc.

893bet · 20-03-2025 02:24PM

an Astma cough?

Ella108 · 20-03-2025 02:26PM

Thanks so much for replying. She's never had asthma before but could be one of possibilities I won't be guessing hence I am looking to get through checks with GP hoping for answers whatscausing it

fleck · 20-03-2025 02:39PM

One of our children developed a persistent cough off the back of having had a cold. I brought them to the doc and was told "it happens, it will go away eventually" . Doc said he could prescribe steroids if we really wanted but as the child was otherwise healthy, he would rather not. The cough disappeared after about 2 months. We didn't keep them off school.

Big Bag of Chips · 20-03-2025 02:42PM

It's the time of year. We've had persistent colds, coughs etc in this house since Christmas. Have you tried Vaporub?

Ella108 · 20-03-2025 02:45PM

Thanks for your reply. Did you ever find out was it viral or bacterial, it must have been so tough to go through that....I'm just stressed and worried what it could be whats causing and that coughing is so loud sometimes I'm myself sleepless. I'm keeping her hydrated doing what can at home and talking her for short walks.

blackbox · 20-03-2025 02:46PM

I definitely wouldn't keep a child out of school if they are only coughing a few times a day as long as they are otherwise healthy.

fleck · 20-03-2025 02:54PM

In our case the doctor said what causes it is the child coughing aggravates the throat and that causes further coughs so it becomes a cycle. Steroids he said might help but generally it just goes away. It was just a normal cough not especially loud and we became immune to the sound. But one day I timed it and the child would cough every 90 seconds or so.

LastApacheInjun · 20-03-2025 03:20PM

Have they always been susceptible to coughs? My daughter was - it would always take ages for a cough to go and while she had one she always sounded like she was a 90 year old with emphysema. Eventually we took her to the GP, who made her do a breathing test with this apparatus thing, and said she had mild asthma. She has an inhaler now which she only uses in the winter or before/during sports. She's never had an attack (touch wood) and it has helped enormously.

That said, if your kid has had a normal reaction to coughs and colds in the past, and you have no family history of asthma, it's unlikely to be that.

the_amazing_raisin · 20-03-2025 04:23PM

Possibly a post viral cough, they can go on for weeks. Steroids can relieve the cough and the antibiotics are generally in case there's an underlying infection

It could also be asthma, if the child is wheezing then worth getting checked

Allergies are another possibility, we're heading into the pollen season

If the kid is otherwise well then they might as well go back to school, not much you can do by keeping them home IMO. Post viral coughs will go when they go, not much you can do other than staying hydrated

Of course it's up to you, if you feel your child is badly off form or generally has less energy then they could still be battling something

Ezeoul · 22-03-2025 03:36PM

My daughter once developed a cough that went on for months before eventually rectifying itself, your daughter's cough is probably viral.

Also, allergy season is starting, could she have allergies?

Ella108 · 22-03-2025 04:31PM

Doctors think it's viral also, but it's going on so long, we are now in 5th week and not really improving

Ezeoul · 22-03-2025 11:48PM

My doctor called it "a hundred day cough" even though that term is usually reserved for whooping cough.

Big Bag of Chips · 23-03-2025 09:45AM

Steam, Vaporub, plenty of warm liquids, honey and lemon.

It's quite common and will eventually clear.

Moonbeam · 27-03-2025 10:29PM

maybe an allergy to something?

9 year old with persistent cough

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