Constant Cough with Vomitting/Choking

[vpmom]

My son is a healthy six foot three 20 year old that does not smoke. 3 weeks ago he developed a cough in which we treated with over the counter cough medicine.  He kept coughing and 5 days into the cough he started randomly vomitting with his cough but could still eat. 7 days into the cough he started to vomit every time he coughed.  He cannot eat or drink anything that he doesnt go to coughing within minutes.  I took him to his doctor who gave him an antibiotic,clarinex and cough syrup..After 3-4 days of taking this he seemed no better and in fact seemed worse.  He got so bad one night we took him to the after hours clinic where they took a chest x-ray and switched his antibiotic and cough syrup..the next day they took a blood test that said it was fine...whatever that means...Yesterday he was so bad and was turning yellow we took him to a different hospital emergency room and the doctor ran more tests for everything from white blood cell count to mono they gave him an IV and over about 2 to 3 hours he started to look pink in color again..more normal to me he seemed to cough much less and was not vomitting just expelling mucus or phlegm anyway after about 6 hours the doctor sent him home with some stomach medicine and over the counter cough syrup no the prescription. Right before we got home in the car he started in again with the vomitting and coughing and he managed to sleep about 2 to 4 hours at a time before he wakes up choking and he is sleeping propped up. Is there anything that these doctors may be missing? He is really sick and we are so worried.

[National Jewish]

A chronic cough can be a side effect of a group of medicines used to treat high blood pressure called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.  In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the most common causes of cough are postnasal drip, chronic sinus problem, heartburn, and asthma.  Your son may need to be seen by his doctor to have further testing done to figure out what this could be and the best treatment.

[ozark]

have they checked him for whooping cough.....it is going around in different towns

[vpmom]

They did a pertussis (whooping cough) test...but I had to beg them to...also in this small town we wont have any results for 3 or 4 days...I insisted on the test since everything I read lead me to feel like it could be a possibility...But I hear that Whooping Cough just has to run its course there isnt any treatment except when caught early...Thanks for your input.  Hope you never have to deal with a rural community where the hospital cant even set a broken bone you have to drive 30 minutes or so for that..

[Concerned lady]

I agree with Ozark, about possible adult Pertussis (whooping cough). Also, consider possible gastric reflux, which can cause breathing problems (including laryngospasms/VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction). Sometimes respiratory infections can cause or worsen gastric reflux.

I hope you can have your son seen at Nat'l Jewish, in Denver, CO, if possible, to get a full, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatments. If not, you can ask a LUNG LINE nurse, for a doctor referral in your area, if possible. Call 1-800-222-LUNG(5864), Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm, to speak with a LUNG LINE nurse.

Concerned lady
<a href=http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com>http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com</a>

[ozark]

they should probably do some type of gi study....like a barium swallow.....the other thing is, does he have a tickle in his throat that starts his coughing?  does he choke/cough when he drinks?  i hope he starts feeling better....

[gaonmymnd03]

My father and son have this problem and have had it for years. Sometimes worse than other times. It is Allergy and they use inhalers and prescription allergy meds. If antibiotics do not help ask your doctor about allergies.....