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My Daughter Who Is 6 Years Old Is Having Persistant
Question: My daughter who is 6 years old is having persistant dry cough since last 3 months. it is continous but mostly she just coughs once every 10 seconds and that happens throughout the day. Night, when she goes to sleep, she never coughs. it is all like dry cough, small but continuous.
She has no other symptoms like fever. she actively plays as usual.
Her X-Ray looks good . she took different types of allergy medications but nothing helped.
Doctor prcescribed to Lung-specialist but we couldn't get appointment till Feb 2019.
Please suggest if it could be the symptom of Tuberculosis ? what other things we can do to reduce her cough. will there be any kind of in-halers we can use for kids ?
My main concern is, could it be the symptom of TB ? she is having dry cough
since over 2 and half months.
Thanks
She has no other symptoms like fever. she actively plays as usual.
Her X-Ray looks good . she took different types of allergy medications but nothing helped.
Doctor prcescribed to Lung-specialist but we couldn't get appointment till Feb 2019.
Please suggest if it could be the symptom of Tuberculosis ? what other things we can do to reduce her cough. will there be any kind of in-halers we can use for kids ?
My main concern is, could it be the symptom of TB ? she is having dry cough
since over 2 and half months.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Tuberculosis unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for trusting us with your health related question.
I understand your concern. A nagging dry cough going on for so long in a child, certainly need is cause for concern.
After carefully reading the information you have provided, taking into consideration that allergy test results were negative, the x ray did not show anything of concern, and the child is active, playful, with no signs of weakness, tiredness, decrease in appetite or weight loss, I would definitely rule out Tuberculosis. It would take way more than a dry cough for a clinical picture of TB.
After having excluded an active lung infection, allergy, asthma or TB, a strong possibility is acid reflux. Usually when stomach acid comes up through the food pipe, it causes throat irritation and dry cough. A trial of anti acids or Tums may diagnose and treat the dry cough.
Another cause may be habit cough. Sometimes, in children, after throat irritation or a bout of lung infection, such as bronchitis, the cough will persist even after the irritation or infection has resolved. This type of cough is typically present during the day and stops when the child is distracted or when sleeping, which would be consistent with what you referred. Giving the child a sip of water every time they feel the need to cough usually helps them get over this habit.
In any case, you should go ahead with the appointment with the lung specialist.
I hope this answers your question and is helpful to you. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Tuberculosis unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for trusting us with your health related question.
I understand your concern. A nagging dry cough going on for so long in a child, certainly need is cause for concern.
After carefully reading the information you have provided, taking into consideration that allergy test results were negative, the x ray did not show anything of concern, and the child is active, playful, with no signs of weakness, tiredness, decrease in appetite or weight loss, I would definitely rule out Tuberculosis. It would take way more than a dry cough for a clinical picture of TB.
After having excluded an active lung infection, allergy, asthma or TB, a strong possibility is acid reflux. Usually when stomach acid comes up through the food pipe, it causes throat irritation and dry cough. A trial of anti acids or Tums may diagnose and treat the dry cough.
Another cause may be habit cough. Sometimes, in children, after throat irritation or a bout of lung infection, such as bronchitis, the cough will persist even after the irritation or infection has resolved. This type of cough is typically present during the day and stops when the child is distracted or when sleeping, which would be consistent with what you referred. Giving the child a sip of water every time they feel the need to cough usually helps them get over this habit.
In any case, you should go ahead with the appointment with the lung specialist.
I hope this answers your question and is helpful to you. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
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. Raju A.T
Answered by
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