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What Causes Recurrent Intermittent Cold, Cough And Fever?

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Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Question: My son is 3.5 years old. he get cold/cough/fever very often. how to differentiate between allergy, infection or athsma
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Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please answer the questions below

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?
7. In a day when he has fever - once fever medication is given and fever comes down - how is the activity of the kid?
8. How many days does each fever episode last?

Get back to me with answers and I will guide you further.

Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)
Please find the answers below:
1&2. He don't have cough and breathlessness in every month. he get it once in 3-4 months. But once started it take long time to relive. This time the cold started 6-7 weeks back.Then started fever and cough after 3 weeks. Then we consulted a doctor . he prescribed alerid, crocin and ventrolin. We stopped the medication when the cold and fever subsided. After few days ear pain with fever started. Then he had given antibiotic ( amoxyline) and ear drops and ascoril. The antibiotic was over one week back and his ear pain and fever also cured, But we were continuing Ascoril till yesterday as he was having slight cough. Today afternoon the fever started again and he has difficulty in breathing during sleep.

3. we have not observed any breathlessness while playing.
4. yes , it look like seasonal
5. no. but there are allergic people
6. not always
7. once the fever comes down , he become normally active.
8. 2-3 days with crocin.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Looks like viral associated wheeze

Detailed Answer:
Hi....from your answers I feel that it could be a viral associated wheeze. Your kid doesn't have asthma. Small viral infections are triggering cold which is turning into wheezing and cough. He might grow out of its as the age progresses.

Coming to your queries about differentiation of illness -

1. Allergy - there will be family members with allergic tendency, cold and wheezing can occur without fever, the symptoms will be all round the year and are not related to infection or fever.

2. Infection - there will definitely be fever. Sometimes the kid will be normal in between 2 fever episodes on same day, then it may be a viral infection. If it's bacterial infection, the kid will be sick looking and breathlessness will be more prominent than cough.

3. Asthma - asthma is also an type of allergic manifestation of airways. But it is a diagnosis which should be made only if symptoms are still persisting even after 5 years of age.

Hope I have clarified your questions. I will be glad to help if there is anything else.

Regards - Dr Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (28 hours later)
Thanks for your detailed answers. I consulted the doctor for the fever. he advised to give just crocin. he didn't observe any wheezing in the morning. because we have consulted him in the morning. I think he is having wheezing only in the night. Do you recommend any medicine for this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I recommend Levosalbutamol

Detailed Answer:
Hi.... usually For viral illness associated wheeze like this I suggest levosalbutamol for 3 days thrice a day in weight appropriate dose. But this is a prescription drug so I suggest you meet your pediatrician for the prescription.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (19 hours later)
OK. do you recommend any vaccination or alternate medicine like homeo as a preventive measures?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I do not recommend homeo medicines - Yearly influenza vaccine is useful

Detailed Answer:
Hi...

1. I do not recommend homeo treatment for this.

2. I suggest influenza vaccination yearly.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8339 Questions

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What Causes Recurrent Intermittent Cold, Cough And Fever?

Brief Answer: Please answer the questions below 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? 7. In a day when he has fever - once fever medication is given and fever comes down - how is the activity of the kid? 8. How many days does each fever episode last? Get back to me with answers and I will guide you further. Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,