Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Considering the details you have provided ,your childs reports ( which are in normal range ) , the most probable causes for his cough could be either hypersensitivity of the airways ( allergy ) or a underlying gastrointestinal reflux ( GERD).
Actually both conditions may even coexist in mild forms in some children .
For a confirmed diagnosis the following are needed ,
1. Thorough clinical history , auscultation and examination ( also ruling out upper respiratory problems like tonsilloadenoid or sinusitis) by his paediatrician or chest physician .
2. Lung function tests if needed like peak expiratory flow rates ( PEFR) or spirometry , barium ( milk) scan for GERD if suspected .
High resolution chest CT scan if the doctor feels there is a need based on examination.
3. Many a times a thorough questionnaire based evaluation by an allergist or pulmonologist ( chest physician )itself can indicate an allergy or asthma and many tests may not be required .
4. Treatment with anti allergic and bronchodilator medications given as a trial by your doctor during an excacerbation to measure any improvement in the symptoms may be a good indicator .

I definitely agree with you that such a prolonged or frequent cough cold is not without any cause and should be thoroughly evaluated . Your child is otherwise normal and these bouts should not affect his growth and development so I would advise you to consult a chest physician specialising in allergic or asthmatic problems in children to come to a conclusion .
Meanwhile make sure your child is vaccinated against respiratory infection with vaccines like prevenar or pneumovac to decrease his chances of catching frequent respiratory infections .
Hope I have answered your query.
I'll be available for any follow up queries.
Regards

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Hello,
Thanks for the follow up.
Yes both clamp kid ( amoxicillin clavulunate ) and Qucef are penicillin derived antibiotics and are effective in adenoid or any upper respiratory infections .
However if the doctor has confirmed significant adenoid hypertrophy or inflammation then it's advisable to continue with the full treatment prescribed including an antibiotic course . I understand that your child has already completed a course of clamp kid in last month ( say fifteen days back ) however sometimes certain bacteria might be resistant to amoxicillin and so infection might not be eradicated by it . Hence I would recommend you go ahead as per the doctors advise to ensure a curative treatment .
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer if you have no further queries .
Wishing your child good health.
Regards.

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Hello,
Thanks for the appreciation.
Throat culture or any culture Should be ideally done before the administration of antibiotics as the results might be affected by the antibiotic therapy .
As he has already had a course of antibiotics and currently on the next one it is not mandatory to have a throat culture which might show a mixed growth.
However it can still be done if the second antibiotic is not started if you wish so , but again how reliable it will be cant be commented on.
So I would not recommend it but nevertheless it's not contraindicated too and might add corroborative evidence in confirming the diagnosis .
Hope I have answered your query .
Wishing your child good health.
Regards

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