Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
2 year old, chronic coughing, mom with questions
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
2 year old, chronic coughing, mom with questions
by Amy1129, May 23, 2006 12:00AM
Long story, hopefully this is the very short version.My 23 month old son has been coughing since 6 months old.He has good days with many OK days, and lots of very bad days, very few of the he's finally healthy days.Seems to be constantly on antibiotics for every kind of chest infection, on pulmicort, albuterol 2x's a day, constant ear infections (tubes, adnoids, and tonsils are scheduled), chronic loose stools.Seen an allergist, he has lots of environmental allergies, did all the mattres covers, rugs are gone, air purifier in.All this to no avail.Chest xray showed streaking in the main bronch tubes (?) perihilar stuff hazy areas, left lobe is alot grayer than the right. SHowed other issues, but cant remember it all.Went to pedi pulmonologist in Boston, scheduled for sweat test on Friday, he doesnt think he has it, but wants to rule out CF.He wants to do CT and bronchoscope next week.Mentioned something about poss. deformed broch tubes, or weak lung walls, or even a cyst compressing his lungs causing this cough. Does this make any sense to anyone? Is there a name for this? Also what are the possibilities he has a verison of pulmonary micobacterial infection? I would like to ask his pulmonologist but dont wanna look stupid if there is no way he can have this.
THank you for any info anyone might have
-Amy
THank you for any info anyone might have
-Amy
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 25, 2006 12:00AM
, May 25, 2006 12:00AM
There are other reasons for children to have recurrent respiratory infections and chronic cough. One of the most common for a child this age is a chronic sinus infection or inflammation. A CT scan of the sinuses may help. This is not an easy test in a 2 year old, because the child has to lie quietly during the test, not because the test hurts. Other not so common reasons are an immune problem leading to many infections or a chronic infection, such as you have suggested. I would see the pediatric pulmonologist, but absolutely consider the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis as being the cause of these problems.
thanks again
Leslie
Well we had my sons sweat test today at childrens hosp in boston and it was negative. The dr didnt seem to think he had CF but still wanted to rule it out. Anyways, last week when we first met with him, he reviewed all his sinus and chest xrays, blood tests, and his nose swab test results. All of which concerned him. He listened to his chest, he said it was crackling and popping. He looked inside his nose said it was all white and he said his tonsils and adnoids were unbelieveablely huge. He said last week that judging from everything he had in front him, he said it wasnt asthma, wasnt purely allergies. He said he thought something was "anatomically" wrong with his bronchial tubes. Either they arent stong enough and basically collapse when he gets sick or there is something, like a cyst, pushing against his lung causing the streaks he saw on the xrays. There was alot of haze in one lung and some opacification in the other. The streaks are what concerned him. After the initial appointment last week, he said lets schedule the sweat test for this week and then depending on those results we will go ahead and schedule the bronchoscopy and a CT. He gave me a 2 week script of biaxin and said he needed michaels lungs to be clear of all infections, it will make a easier brochoscopy and said see you next week. Today, I asked when we were going to see the dr, she said, i dont have you scheduled to meet him...why she asks. I tell her its to discuss and schedule the bronchoschopy and CT she said OH? OK, I'll try and find him during the test. after the test, she says go wait in the hall and I will send him out. He comes out, looking kinda confused, trying to remember who we are and asked how our son was doing, I said he;s doing rather well, has coughed that bad all week, and that we actually got some sleep. He said "great....so why do you need to talk to me...." I said we were going to schedule the bronchoscopy and he said well if he is doing good, why dont we wait until he get sick again, and when he recovers from that sickness we'll go ahead with the procedure. I replied with he's doing cause he is on this biaxin, and that he always get better while on antibiotic then once that is out of his system, he'll be sick again. He now says....lemme give you another week o