Chronic Cough from more than 8 months for a 4yr old

Hello @krishnareddy84,

Welcome to Connect. As a parent, I can only imagine how worried you must be. I'm tagging Mentor @windwalker to see if she may have some thoughts about your son's symptoms. A few members (@egayle187) in the MAC & Bronchiectasis group on Connect have also recommended reading Dr. Jamie Koufman’s book,"The Chronic Cough Enigma." It has questionnaires to help find the cause of for each individual.

I encourage you to view this Mayo Clinic Video Q&A about Pediatric Lung Problems, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-about-pediatric-lung-problems/ and I'd also like to invite @pfists @jenblalock @g3smith60 @kaystrand @irene5 and @bassman to join this discussion.

@krishnareddy84, may I ask if other causes like post-nasal drip or acid reflux have been ruled out?

Hello @kanaazpereira,

Thank you so much for your message. I am not sure whether post-nasal drop or acid reflux have been ruled out. I can check with Physician about this.

I can explain more on the recent tests and medications which Allergy specialist prescribed which might help you to understand more on the problem.

First doctor suggested to STOP using 'Zyrtec' before my son take allergy skin test. He prescribed below medication to use for 10 days and take test after that.

1. Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium for oral suspension (250mg/62.5 mg per 5 ml)
2. Mometasone nasal 50 mcg/inh

After using these medications we gave Skin test, intradermals and below is the Result of the test they mentioned.

"negative to all tested (including dust mite, molds, grass, weed and additional tree pollens with a negative saline and positive histamine control"

Doctor suggested to continue Mometasone nasal 50 mcg/inh & Zyrtec for next two months and then appear again.

So we are currently using Mometasone nasal 50 mcg/inh & Zyrtec but as I mentioned earlier, it is not improving his condition. If we delay in giving Zyrtec, he will start coughing too much.

Once again than you so much for your message.

@pfists @jenblalock @g3smith60 @kaystrand @irene5 @bassman

Hello @kanaazpereira

Sorry to mention one more thing. His physician ruled out Asthma or pneumonia problems. We went more than 6 times in last 9 months and every time when Doctor checks with stethoscope, doctor mentioned he did not see any problem with lungs and no signs of Asthma or pneumonia problems.

So, in a summary, we are not able figure out the problem/reason for the cause which my kid is struggling from last 9 months.

@pfists @jenblalock @g3smith60 @kaystrand @irene5 @bassman

@krishnareddy84 Hello and welcome to our site. That has to be very disconcerting to have your child coughing and sneezing so much and not find answers. Was your home flooded by hurricane Harvie by any chance? Or your son's day care? Oftentimes; microbes are left in the woodwork that cause respitory issues. Maybe consider taking him to an Infectious Disease dr. Can also try restricting his diet for a few weeks, eliminate milk/dairy, eggs, and gluten (bread, flour, cereal, pasta) do one category at a time. It could be that he has a common food alergy. I know he had an allergy test that turned up nothing. I too had a constant cough and was given both kinds of allergy tests. No food allergies turned up on mine; but, I did the elimination diet and found that dairy and gluten was causing my cough. Keep searching for answers, Google all that you can, maybe get second or third opinions.

@windwalker Thank you so much for your reply. We live in an apartment complex and it was not flooded by hurricane Harvey. Also, we moved to other apartment complex four months back.

We will try eliminate each food item one at a time and see if that helps. Thank you so much for your advice.

@krishnareddy84 Hello. I have another suggestion for you. Ask the doctor to test your son for haemophilus-influenzae. It is not the flu, but is a bacterial infection. May want to have an induced sputem test to see what if anything is in his lungs. There are many things that could be lurking in them.

Thanks @windwalker . I will ask doctor about this test and see if they can do this. Thanks for the suggestion.

@krishnareddy84 Hi, friend. I and my brother and sisters all have the same problem. Chronic cough. Mayo says it is from chronic eosinophilic esophagites and other eosinophil overload in trachea and esophagus and larynx. Ask your doc to order an assay of eosinophils. It is an autoimmune thing, and related to Barrett's Esophagus and Lung issues which will come on slowly. They will probably not show up for another 10 or 20 years on biopsy, etc. old karl.

Hi, Welcome to Connect. I have been following your post. My heart is with you and your son as you search for answers to his cough.
I can relate with my personal journey and also with children I have known. I hope this helps some.
I had the very same issue you describe along with some of the same recommendations. It wasn’t until I went to a big research center, Mayo Clinic, and saw thorasic and pulmonologist who properly diagnosed me with a CT scan. Then I was properly treated.
You live near MD Anderson don’t you? Have you seen lung specialist there?
This is not to frighten you, but in my journey with lung cancer, I have met children ages 3, 7, 8, & 20
who were diagnosed with lung cancer.
Local Doctors all thought (for two or more years) we had asthma.
We were all active and seemingly very healthy before our proper diagnosis. I did a TED X Talk Beating The Odds and Summiting Kilimanjaro with One Lung. My lung journey has made me passionate about Saving Lungs & Lives encouraging people to tell their doctors anybody can get the silent killer lung cancer. I will continue to follow your story. It’s better to request a CT scan and see what’s going on in lungs!
Please stay connected. I’m sending silent blessings. All my best.

@krishnareddy, You're welcome. Will you please keep me posted about your son? Hugs to your little guy.