Hi,
My daughter is 15 months old and has had a cough (off and on, but mostly on) for around 4 months. Besides the ever running nose, she has no other symptoms; eats well, plays well, no fever, etc etc. My previous pediatrican treated her with dicel dm cough syrup. FOUR TIMES. Needless to say, we saw a new ped today, and he determined that the cough was caused by drainage due to allergies, and not by any congestion in her chest. I had guessed it was allergies all along due to the lack of any other symptom, but I feel as if I left the dr. office with more questions than anything; I was told to use saline spray in her nose and run a humidifier in her room at night. I already do these things, so I suppose the purpose of this dissertation, ha, is to ask for advice and recommendations on how to manage her allergies... remedies, things to do around the house that might help, advice on keeping her as comfortable as possible at night... and so on. Thanks in advance for any and all help! :)
Environmental allergies. Dust, pollen, dander, etc etc
Allergies cannot be officially diagnosed until kids are in elementary school. The meds are just not for little guys. So your doc told you correctly. Treating the symptoms naturally is the best way at this age.
Do not try anything over the counter for you little one. They cannot tell you when their little nose is so dried out they are in pain or that they feel terribly drugged and don't like it.
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If her nose, is runny and she has post-nasal drip... then as it drips, down the throat, THIS causes coughing. It irritates and/or tickles the throat. And the reaction, the involuntary reaction, in the body, is to then, cough.
A runny nose, causes, post-nasal drip.
It is nose, drainage.
It goes down the back of the throat.
So, even if she can breathe and/or is not clogged up in her nose, the fact that she has post-nasal drip, she will cough.
So, yes, saline nose drops and humidifiers may help. But, if the post-nasal drip is still happening, then it will cause coughing. As it drips down the back of the throat.
I don't know, per 15 month old babies, what else can be used. Surely, antihistamines, are for much older toddlers or older children. ie: things like Clartin etc.
It is good, the Doctor pinpointed her cough as not being in her chest.
As a kid, I had just general 'allergies' to dust/pollen/dander, anything in the air too. And on windy days. I always had a runny nose (clear) and my eyes would get watery (still does). But, I did not have to take anything for it. But that was me. As a kid. Now as an adult, I take Claritin, IF and when need be. Not just everyday. Only when need be. At certain seasons, it acts up more, because more pollen/dust in the air. I just react to general dust in the air.
As a kid, it really didn't bother me.
You may REALLY consider getting a good air filter/purification unit for your home or just for her room. THAT is my recommendation.
That will help a lot.
My parents got me one when I was a kid.
The humidifier/saline nose drops, will help IF her nose is CLOGGED. That is what it is for.
It will not STOP... the post nasal drip.
all the best,
Susan
I've had problems with drainage due to allergies and for years I didn't know what caused it. Then one day an allergist put me on a restricted diet that included no corn or corn by-products. My drainage cleared up. I discovered that corn is in almost everything these days--corn syrup, that is. It's also in baby food. They call it ascorbic acid but I called once and they said the ascorbic acid comes from corn. Don't give her jarrred baby for a while--if you do--and see if that makes a difference. You could also invest in an air purifier. I have one made by Honeywell. It takes care of just about anything floating around in the air.
are you sure its not asthma? if it is you aren't supposed to use a humidifier, tested for food allergies? I'm suprised on the cough syrup, my doc says not till they're 4! how about singulair? or zyrtec? what did the allergist say? i wouldn't ask a regular doc!
What is she allergic to. Need to know that first before any advice can be
given.
It's much easier to treat allergies if you know what they are. Get a referral to a ped allergist. You manage them be limiting exposure to the allergen, giving an antihistamine, etc. You will have a better idea on how to tackle your home once you find out what she is allergic too
Edited: you mention only seeing a ped did she go to an allergist if not then take her to one. Saline spray is not going to treat her allergy symptoms. Did she have. A skin test done to determine exactly which environmental allergens. For dander get rid of any pets, dust and vacuum daily, get covers for mattress, for pollen stay indoors when he coun is high and shower her at night even I its just a quick rinse.
You can't do anthing about her allergies until you know what they are.
Also, I know of 2 people with symptoms just like your daughter that were diagnosed with allergies. They were repeatedly tested, but no allergen was identified. Finally it was discovered that asthma was causing their symptoms. They were put on inhalers and now they're just fine. Something to consider.
