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What Causes Recurrent Episodes Of Flu, Cough And Chest Congestion?
Posted on
Sun, 15 Feb 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 15 Feb 2015
Answered on
Fri, 13 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Dear Doctor,
My daughter is now 22 months old. She started going to nursery at the age of 20 months just for few hours in the morning to play with other children. Before going to nursery, she was a completely health baby. However, once she joined nursery she had 2-3 episodes of flu. The last time she fell sick, that is at the end of Dec., she didn't recover well after that. In the nights, while asleep, she was coughing hard. So I took her to a Pediatrician and he prescribed Singulair granules for 3 months. I finished 1 month now. In the middle, the cough was subsiding, however 2 weeks ago she got a flu again and the cough aggravated again. Whenever she coughs, I can hear that it is heavy as if her chest is totally congested. I took her to the doctor last week and she is now taking Ventulin (no singulair). I am scheduled for another check on Tuesday, but I cannot see any improvement in the cough. Whenever she coughs it is a hard cough and can hear that her chest is congested. Does she need to take any antibiotics because so far no antibiotics were prescribed to her. Your inputs or advice on this would definitely help me, as I am not sure what is really going on with her.
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
My daughter is now 22 months old. She started going to nursery at the age of 20 months just for few hours in the morning to play with other children. Before going to nursery, she was a completely health baby. However, once she joined nursery she had 2-3 episodes of flu. The last time she fell sick, that is at the end of Dec., she didn't recover well after that. In the nights, while asleep, she was coughing hard. So I took her to a Pediatrician and he prescribed Singulair granules for 3 months. I finished 1 month now. In the middle, the cough was subsiding, however 2 weeks ago she got a flu again and the cough aggravated again. Whenever she coughs, I can hear that it is heavy as if her chest is totally congested. I took her to the doctor last week and she is now taking Ventulin (no singulair). I am scheduled for another check on Tuesday, but I cannot see any improvement in the cough. Whenever she coughs it is a hard cough and can hear that her chest is congested. Does she need to take any antibiotics because so far no antibiotics were prescribed to her. Your inputs or advice on this would definitely help me, as I am not sure what is really going on with her.
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Could be multitriggered wheeze or viral assoicated wheeze
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Greetings from XXXXXXX By what you quote I feel what your kid could be having viral associated wheeze or multitriggered wheeze. Your pediatrician has been right in not giving any antibiotics. This is not infection and is an allergic condition or hyper reactive airways.
I have a few questions for you -
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she 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?
No point in using antibiotics for an allergic condition. It will do more harm than good by increasing bacterial resistance.
Please get back to me with answers to above questions and I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Could be multitriggered wheeze or viral assoicated wheeze
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Greetings from XXXXXXX By what you quote I feel what your kid could be having viral associated wheeze or multitriggered wheeze. Your pediatrician has been right in not giving any antibiotics. This is not infection and is an allergic condition or hyper reactive airways.
I have a few questions for you -
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she 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?
No point in using antibiotics for an allergic condition. It will do more harm than good by increasing bacterial resistance.
Please get back to me with answers to above questions and I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
As mentioned in my previous mail, with Singulair her symptoms reduced, that was around mid-Jan. However, end of XXXXXXX she fell sick again (flu) and then the symptoms aggravated. So here are my answers for the last 2 weeks (because before that the symptoms were reducing)
1. she coughs daily and especially while sleeping. her nostrils get blocked.
2. every night from the past 2 weeks. However, last night she slept little bit well.
3. No. she doesn't feel breathless while playing
4. yes, the symptoms got aggravated after flu
5. yes, myself (dust allergy) and father (allergic and slight asthma)
6. No, cough is not associated with fever.
The above kind of cough pattern was there end of December too when she fell sick. After that, the symptoms reduced a bit but got aggravated again after falling sick 2 weeks ago.
Please kindly advice what should be her treatment to alleviate this cough.
Thank you,
XXXX
Sorry, a small correction to answer no. 5 in my previous mail.
5. yes, myself (dust allergy) and my father (i.e. baby's grandfather is also allergic and slight asthma).
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
Thank you for your reply.
As mentioned in my previous mail, with Singulair her symptoms reduced, that was around mid-Jan. However, end of XXXXXXX she fell sick again (flu) and then the symptoms aggravated. So here are my answers for the last 2 weeks (because before that the symptoms were reducing)
1. she coughs daily and especially while sleeping. her nostrils get blocked.
2. every night from the past 2 weeks. However, last night she slept little bit well.
3. No. she doesn't feel breathless while playing
4. yes, the symptoms got aggravated after flu
5. yes, myself (dust allergy) and father (allergic and slight asthma)
6. No, cough is not associated with fever.
The above kind of cough pattern was there end of December too when she fell sick. After that, the symptoms reduced a bit but got aggravated again after falling sick 2 weeks ago.
Please kindly advice what should be her treatment to alleviate this cough.
Thank you,
XXXX
Sorry, a small correction to answer no. 5 in my previous mail.
5. yes, myself (dust allergy) and my father (i.e. baby's grandfather is also allergic and slight asthma).
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Looks like multitriggered wheeze - May need inhalers
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I have read through the history points you have provided.This looks like a multitriggered wheeze.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly good management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and now these allergic symptoms are 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Budecort.
The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs. Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement.
The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Looks like multitriggered wheeze - May need inhalers
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I have read through the history points you have provided.This looks like a multitriggered wheeze.
Suggestions:
1. There are certainly good management therapies in allopathy now-a-days. Medicine has advanced a lot and now these allergic symptoms are 100% controllable.
2. Inhalers are the newest management strategies for this. If I were your paediatrician I would have suggested the use of Budecort metered dose inhaler (100mcg) 2 puffs twice a day through a spacer and this is for regular use for 8 weeks.
Another metered dose inhaler is Levolin and this can used as rescue therapy whenever the kid is having severe cough in spite of regular usage of Budecort.
The technique is very important and very crucial for the drug to be delivered correctly to the lungs. Regularity of medicine usage also matters a lot. So do not discontinue abruptly after you notice some improvement.
The technique of administering an inhaler using a spacer has to be taught to you by your doctor and these are prescription medicines. So I suggest you consult your paediatrician for this.
3. Triggers can be environmental changes/ dust/ talcum powder/ seasonal changes/ un-cleaned a/c vents/ cold weather etc....we can specifically say this is the cause - unless we observe the kid closely - best person is the parent.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
I have few queries.
1. Does this mean she is having asthma? I mean normally inhalers are used by asthma patients. And should I worry about an asthma attack?
2. Doctor you have suggested to use the inhaler for 8 weeks, almost 2 months. So we expect that she will recover during this time. I hope Doctor I would not have to give more medications after these 8 weeks or should I expect that she will have to continue taking medications for the management of her symptoms?
I am just worried if too much medication is being given to her.
Thanking you in advance,
Regards,
XXXX
Thank you for your reply.
I have few queries.
1. Does this mean she is having asthma? I mean normally inhalers are used by asthma patients. And should I worry about an asthma attack?
2. Doctor you have suggested to use the inhaler for 8 weeks, almost 2 months. So we expect that she will recover during this time. I hope Doctor I would not have to give more medications after these 8 weeks or should I expect that she will have to continue taking medications for the management of her symptoms?
I am just worried if too much medication is being given to her.
Thanking you in advance,
Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
This is not asthma
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Coming to your queries -
1. This is not asthma - and less than 5 years old kids have got a very fair chance to grow out of these allergic symptoms and that is why this is not labelled as asthma - now.
2. You need to be on the look out of acute severe wheezing - but not an asthma attack.
3. This is not a medication with serious adverse effects. The doctor will assess the control of symptoms and ask you to meet him or her every 2 weeks once. based on that he or she will decide when and how gradually the dose can be lowered and stopped eventually.
4. She might be either stopped on the medications or asked to continue for few more weeks based on the control of her symptoms.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below -
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
This is not asthma
Detailed Answer:
Hi...Coming to your queries -
1. This is not asthma - and less than 5 years old kids have got a very fair chance to grow out of these allergic symptoms and that is why this is not labelled as asthma - now.
2. You need to be on the look out of acute severe wheezing - but not an asthma attack.
3. This is not a medication with serious adverse effects. The doctor will assess the control of symptoms and ask you to meet him or her every 2 weeks once. based on that he or she will decide when and how gradually the dose can be lowered and stopped eventually.
4. She might be either stopped on the medications or asked to continue for few more weeks based on the control of her symptoms.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below -
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
I have missed two queries in my previous email.
As I mentioned, now I am giving only Ventulin and stopped Singulair granules.
Honestly, the doctor I consulted didn't specifically tell me to stop Singulair but I assumed that I should stop it and so discontinued. So my question is should I give both Ventulin (3 times daily 2.5 ml for 1 week) and also Singulair (prescribed for 3 months) or only Ventulin?
Also, whenever she is coughing to help her reduce her cough, I give her Tussimont cough syrup (after giving her Ventulin). Doctor my understanding is Ventulin is not a cough syrup so I was giving her Tussimont. Is this okay? Also, should there be any gap between the medications? I normally give both of them at the same time (i.e. one after the other).
Regards,
XXXX
I have missed two queries in my previous email.
As I mentioned, now I am giving only Ventulin and stopped Singulair granules.
Honestly, the doctor I consulted didn't specifically tell me to stop Singulair but I assumed that I should stop it and so discontinued. So my question is should I give both Ventulin (3 times daily 2.5 ml for 1 week) and also Singulair (prescribed for 3 months) or only Ventulin?
Also, whenever she is coughing to help her reduce her cough, I give her Tussimont cough syrup (after giving her Ventulin). Doctor my understanding is Ventulin is not a cough syrup so I was giving her Tussimont. Is this okay? Also, should there be any gap between the medications? I normally give both of them at the same time (i.e. one after the other).
Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Suggestions on medications
Detailed Answer:
Hi...
1. Ventorlin is for wheezing and Singulair is for keeping allergic response under control.
2. You can give Ventorlin and Singulair... Both.
3. Cough is a manifestation of wheezing in kids. For this Ventorlin is enough. Do not give Tussimont.
4. You can give Ventorlin and Singular at same time.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Suggestions on medications
Detailed Answer:
Hi...
1. Ventorlin is for wheezing and Singulair is for keeping allergic response under control.
2. You can give Ventorlin and Singulair... Both.
3. Cough is a manifestation of wheezing in kids. For this Ventorlin is enough. Do not give Tussimont.
4. You can give Ventorlin and Singular at same time.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your response and also for the link to send questions directly to you.
I will definitely keep you updated after my daughter's doctor's visit on Tuesday.
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
Thank you for your response and also for the link to send questions directly to you.
I will definitely keep you updated after my daughter's doctor's visit on Tuesday.
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Happy that my suggestions relieved your doubts
Detailed Answer:
Hi....I am happy that my suggestions relieved your doubts regarding your kid's health issues.
I hope I have not asked you too many questions. But that's my routine habit as I feel this sort of information is the one which helps in accurate diagnosis.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Happy that my suggestions relieved your doubts
Detailed Answer:
Hi....I am happy that my suggestions relieved your doubts regarding your kid's health issues.
I hope I have not asked you too many questions. But that's my routine habit as I feel this sort of information is the one which helps in accurate diagnosis.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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