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What Causes Cough After Drinking Milk In Children?
Question: Hi my son 4yrs old he is having cold but when he drinks milk in night before he sleeps and also once he wake up in the morning he will cough badly and it tends to even vomiting for some times. as per our observations he will cough badly after he drinks milk.. can you please suggest on this..
Brief Answer:
Reflux or allergic reaction
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
From your description I understand that
1. Cough is more in night and early morning.
2. Related to milk intake.
With this short history
Indeed I need more information
1. How long is he having this?
2. Does this come repeatedly once a few weeks or so?
3. Does he get disturbed during sleep?
4. Any other symptoms like fever, skin rash, etc.
5. Family history of allergy or wheezing.
6. Any hospitalisation before
If isolated and symptoms are just for the past few days then it could be
Milk allergy - though uncommon after 3 years. But possible if he had similar episodes in the past.
Or
Reflux - where food trickles back from stomach to food pipe and causes cough.
To start with I would suggest the following
1. Try giving milk before 6 pm. Avoid heavy dinner. Let him play for an hour atleast before sleeping. No milk just before lying down.
2. Try avoiding chocolates, sweets, spicy foods which can aggravate reflux.
3. I usually prescribe cetrizine syrup 3 ml twice daily for a few days to see if it helps ( if so it is more of allergy).
4. A proper clinical examination is must at this age to confirm the possibilities I suggested. Contact your doctor with these tips.
Wishing your child good health and speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Arun
Reflux or allergic reaction
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
From your description I understand that
1. Cough is more in night and early morning.
2. Related to milk intake.
With this short history
Indeed I need more information
1. How long is he having this?
2. Does this come repeatedly once a few weeks or so?
3. Does he get disturbed during sleep?
4. Any other symptoms like fever, skin rash, etc.
5. Family history of allergy or wheezing.
6. Any hospitalisation before
If isolated and symptoms are just for the past few days then it could be
Milk allergy - though uncommon after 3 years. But possible if he had similar episodes in the past.
Or
Reflux - where food trickles back from stomach to food pipe and causes cough.
To start with I would suggest the following
1. Try giving milk before 6 pm. Avoid heavy dinner. Let him play for an hour atleast before sleeping. No milk just before lying down.
2. Try avoiding chocolates, sweets, spicy foods which can aggravate reflux.
3. I usually prescribe cetrizine syrup 3 ml twice daily for a few days to see if it helps ( if so it is more of allergy).
4. A proper clinical examination is must at this age to confirm the possibilities I suggested. Contact your doctor with these tips.
Wishing your child good health and speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Arun
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank u Sir... however he doesn't have any past history and he has a cough from past 3 days.. he feels disturbed only when he cough. he doesn't have any rashes and no family history. we stopped giving milk in the night which stopped vomiting. however the cough has not stopped and he is continuously coughing
Brief Answer:
Should settle soon
Detailed Answer:
If no previous history, his symptoms should settle down soon.
You can try cetrizine as advised before.
If not improving get him examined again.
Regards
Should settle soon
Detailed Answer:
If no previous history, his symptoms should settle down soon.
You can try cetrizine as advised before.
If not improving get him examined again.
Regards
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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