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Suggest Remedy For Cough And Running Nose In An Infant
Question: Hi Doctor,
My 2.5 years Son is having on/off cough and running nose since last 4 months. His cough and running nose usually starts with fever for which we give him calpol 120 when the fever is more than 101. While in he has these symptoms he also has breathlessness sleep/stuffed nose and wakes up every hour at night.
We are not sure what he is allergic to. Please suggest some long term remedy and also if there is any dietary recommendation (do's and don't).
My 2.5 years Son is having on/off cough and running nose since last 4 months. His cough and running nose usually starts with fever for which we give him calpol 120 when the fever is more than 101. While in he has these symptoms he also has breathlessness sleep/stuffed nose and wakes up every hour at night.
We are not sure what he is allergic to. Please suggest some long term remedy and also if there is any dietary recommendation (do's and don't).
Brief Answer:
Could be viral induced wheeze or allergy induced - please answer the questi
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic. Greetings from XXXXXXX
By what you quote I feel what your kid could be having viral associated wheeze or multi triggered wheeze. I have a few questions for you -
Questions:
1. How many days per month does he cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does his sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does he feel breathless when he runs around or plays with other kids?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Could be viral induced wheeze or allergy induced - please answer the questi
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic. Greetings from XXXXXXX
By what you quote I feel what your kid could be having viral associated wheeze or multi triggered wheeze. I have a few questions for you -
Questions:
1. How many days per month does he cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does his sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does he feel breathless when he runs around or plays with other kids?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Please find my answers to your questions:
Questions:
1. How many days per month does he cough or feel breathless?
Answer: Once it starts it takes around two weeks to subsidize. Approximately once in a month.
2. How many nights per month does his sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
Answer: 5-7 days, when his coughing is at peak.
3. Does he feel breathless when he runs around or plays with other kids?
Answer: Yes, he starts coughing after running and complains that he is tiered.
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
Answer: Yes, we these symptoms reoccurring after there was a dip in temperature and whether is cold.
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
Answer: Yes, my wife has dust allergy.
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Answer: It is not always associated with fever but at times yes.
Questions:
1. How many days per month does he cough or feel breathless?
Answer: Once it starts it takes around two weeks to subsidize. Approximately once in a month.
2. How many nights per month does his sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
Answer: 5-7 days, when his coughing is at peak.
3. Does he feel breathless when he runs around or plays with other kids?
Answer: Yes, he starts coughing after running and complains that he is tiered.
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
Answer: Yes, we these symptoms reoccurring after there was a dip in temperature and whether is cold.
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
Answer: Yes, my wife has dust allergy.
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Answer: It is not always associated with fever but at times yes.
Brief Answer:
Looks like multi triggred wheeze - options suggested
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote I feel your son might be having a multi triggered wheeze and in other words your pediatrician is right... It's a hyper reactive airways disease.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly alternative management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and not asthma is 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Budecort.
The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs.
Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement.
The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
4. Usually sea foods should be avoided and as such even too much of spicy food also can be a trigger. Certain nuts can cause this type of symptoms.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Looks like multi triggred wheeze - options suggested
Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you quote I feel your son might be having a multi triggered wheeze and in other words your pediatrician is right... It's a hyper reactive airways disease.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly alternative management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and not asthma is 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Budecort.
The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs.
Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement.
The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
4. Usually sea foods should be avoided and as such even too much of spicy food also can be a trigger. Certain nuts can cause this type of symptoms.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Should I discontinue Aerocort Inhaler, Levolin syrup & Montex LC Kid? And start Budecort metered dose inhaler and also Levolin inhaler?
Please elaborate on what all medication should I start/continue? Also there dosage.
How long do you think he will have to take these medicines?
We observed last time that after taking Aerocort Inhaler(2 puffs twice) & Montex LC Kid(once) for almost 20+ days there was lot of 95 % improvement. Then we reduced the Aerocort puff to once a day and also there was sudden whether change. After that he is back to severe coughing, running nose, wheezing, sneezing and fever(around 101 F).
Looking at all this please suggest then best possible long term remedy and medication.
Please elaborate on what all medication should I start/continue? Also there dosage.
How long do you think he will have to take these medicines?
We observed last time that after taking Aerocort Inhaler(2 puffs twice) & Montex LC Kid(once) for almost 20+ days there was lot of 95 % improvement. Then we reduced the Aerocort puff to once a day and also there was sudden whether change. After that he is back to severe coughing, running nose, wheezing, sneezing and fever(around 101 F).
Looking at all this please suggest then best possible long term remedy and medication.
Brief Answer:
Treatment schedule suggested
Detailed Answer:
Hi....if I were your pediatrician would suggest the following -
1. Aerocort and Budecort are almost similar. You can continue either of these. Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Meanwhile in this 8 weeks I would like to have a symptomatic review and analyse his treatment response by asking you certain questions once in 2 weeks.
Usually the treatment duration would be anywhere from 6 months to one year based on the response to treatment.
Then once he is completely free of symptoms and we have made sure that he has not been symptomatic for at least 6 months then we need to gradually taper the dose of Budecort or Aerocort.
2. Levolin inhaler has to be used only if there is severe cough and wheezing or breathlessness.
Every time you use Levolin you note it down in a diary as to how many times you had to use Levolin in a month or fortnight. This will be reviewed by me.
3. Syrup Montek LC kid can be used on daily basis in evening at 6pm for a period of 8 weeks again.
4. Do not use Levolin syrup. Metered dose inhalers are far better and superior option.
5. Do not stop any of these medications abruptly except for Levolin inhaler which needs to be used only when needed (not on daily basis).
Once you follow these instructions, please get back to me once in 2 weeks time.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Treatment schedule suggested
Detailed Answer:
Hi....if I were your pediatrician would suggest the following -
1. Aerocort and Budecort are almost similar. You can continue either of these. Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Meanwhile in this 8 weeks I would like to have a symptomatic review and analyse his treatment response by asking you certain questions once in 2 weeks.
Usually the treatment duration would be anywhere from 6 months to one year based on the response to treatment.
Then once he is completely free of symptoms and we have made sure that he has not been symptomatic for at least 6 months then we need to gradually taper the dose of Budecort or Aerocort.
2. Levolin inhaler has to be used only if there is severe cough and wheezing or breathlessness.
Every time you use Levolin you note it down in a diary as to how many times you had to use Levolin in a month or fortnight. This will be reviewed by me.
3. Syrup Montek LC kid can be used on daily basis in evening at 6pm for a period of 8 weeks again.
4. Do not use Levolin syrup. Metered dose inhalers are far better and superior option.
5. Do not stop any of these medications abruptly except for Levolin inhaler which needs to be used only when needed (not on daily basis).
Once you follow these instructions, please get back to me once in 2 weeks time.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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