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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
My 3 year old son have a running nose since Labor Day
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.
My 3 year old son have a running nose since Labor Day
by worrymom, Nov 16, 2004 12:00AM
In the Labor Day,we went to Florida beach and came back with my 3 year old son got running nose everyday since then. I brought him to see the pediatric doctors and allergy doctors. They first said it may be a cold. Then I said it lasted for months. They said maybe he developed an allergy to something. They gave him "ZYRTEC" and "NASONEX" nosal spray. These all didn't help. He still got running nose every minute. His dripping looks clear. He doesn't have other allery symptom such as watery/itch eyes or sneezing like me. Since I got allergy to ragweeds. So since Labor Day, my allergy developed at same time as my son. But my allergy end on October. My son's running nose seems last forever. The allergy doctor said he is too young to do a skin test.(Is that true?) So I have no clue what he allery to. I went to internet to search some allergens in fall to winter. It looks like the molds and medew exist this time and will go away in the spring time. Please give me some suggestion. His running nose seems to dicrease his appetise a little. Otherwise he plays and sleeps well. It just makes him and us uncomfortable to clean his nose every other minutes.
My another question is about my 10 year old son. He continutes dry cough evey year from middle of Nov. to Feburary. He develop cough from First Grade until now. He doesn't wheeze. His cough gets worse in the morning. Sometimes he can't eat his breakfast. Two times the doctor let him to have x-ray and found his infection in the nose and give him antibotic (antibiotic) medcine. It seems help. Dose he got a sinusitis or asthma or just flu?
My another question is about my 10 year old son. He continutes dry cough evey year from middle of Nov. to Feburary. He develop cough from First Grade until now. He doesn't wheeze. His cough gets worse in the morning. Sometimes he can't eat his breakfast. Two times the doctor let him to have x-ray and found his infection in the nose and give him antibotic (antibiotic) medcine. It seems help. Dose he got a sinusitis or asthma or just flu?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Nov 17, 2004 12:00AM
, Nov 17, 2004 12:00AM
Your 3-year-old son’s runny nose could be coming from drainage from the nose and sinuses that can run out of the nose as well as down the back of the throat. This postnasal drip can cause a runny nose as well as a constant feeling of mucus at the back of the throat. Typically this is worse at night when he lays down to sleep. Generally this irritation feels the worst when he wakes up and gets better as the day goes on. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis.
An antihistamine, like the Zyrtec® (cetirizine), can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the drainage and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your son’s doctor to see if Zyrtec-D® (cetirizine/pseudoephedrine), a combination antihistamine-decongestant, would help him more. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis. Singulair® (montelukast sodium) helps when the irritation is due to allergies.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and lessen his runny nose. It is most helpful when done daily before using any nasal spray. A prescription antihistamine nasal spray, like Astelin® (azelastine), helps when the postnasal drip is due to allergies. When the postnasal drip is thin and watery Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide) may help to dry this up. A prescription nasal steroid spray, like Nasonex® (mometasone), decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip and runny nose. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide), and the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering your son. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if your son would benefit from this daily treatment.
Wheezing is the most common symptom. However some people only cough. With asthma the basic problem is chronic inflammation along with tightening of the smooth muscles that surround the airways of the lungs. This inflammation increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These asthma triggers vary from person to person. For some people allergies cause more asthma symptoms, but for other people allergies do not cause asthma symptoms at all. Infections, like sinusitis, are a common trigger. When asthma is triggered by infections, it is common for asthma to be worse during the winter months. Also asthma tends to be worse during the night or first thing in the morning. Please check with your 10-year-old son’s doctor to see if this could be his problem.
Generally testing for asthma starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how the lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in the airways. Usually 80% or higher is considered normal. To really test for asthma this test may be repeated after using a rescue inhaler, like the bronchodilator albuterol. This measures how much the bronchodilator helps the lungs by reversing the problem. When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma. A chest x-ray is done to be sure that there isn’t any other problem that would need to be treated differently.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and sore throat.
The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative. A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain the sinuses are blocked. If your 10-year-old son’s symptoms are due to sinusitis, they will last as long as the inflammation continues. Here are some ways to clear up the inflammation. Please check with his doctor to see which of these would work best for him. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sin.html for more information. The treatment that was listed above to help your 3-year-old son’s runny nose should also help if sinusitis is your 10-year-old son’s problem.
An antihistamine, like the Zyrtec® (cetirizine), can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the drainage and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your son’s doctor to see if Zyrtec-D® (cetirizine/pseudoephedrine), a combination antihistamine-decongestant, would help him more. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis. Singulair® (montelukast sodium) helps when the irritation is due to allergies.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and lessen his runny nose. It is most helpful when done daily before using any nasal spray. A prescription antihistamine nasal spray, like Astelin® (azelastine), helps when the postnasal drip is due to allergies. When the postnasal drip is thin and watery Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide) may help to dry this up. A prescription nasal steroid spray, like Nasonex® (mometasone), decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip and runny nose. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide), and the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering your son. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if your son would benefit from this daily treatment.
Wheezing is the most common symptom. However some people only cough. With asthma the basic problem is chronic inflammation along with tightening of the smooth muscles that surround the airways of the lungs. This inflammation increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These asthma triggers vary from person to person. For some people allergies cause more asthma symptoms, but for other people allergies do not cause asthma symptoms at all. Infections, like sinusitis, are a common trigger. When asthma is triggered by infections, it is common for asthma to be worse during the winter months. Also asthma tends to be worse during the night or first thing in the morning. Please check with your 10-year-old son’s doctor to see if this could be his problem.
Generally testing for asthma starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how the lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in the airways. Usually 80% or higher is considered normal. To really test for asthma this test may be repeated after using a rescue inhaler, like the bronchodilator albuterol. This measures how much the bronchodilator helps the lungs by reversing the problem. When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma. A chest x-ray is done to be sure that there isn’t any other problem that would need to be treated differently.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and sore throat.
The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative. A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain the sinuses are blocked. If your 10-year-old son’s symptoms are due to sinusitis, they will last as long as the inflammation continues. Here are some ways to clear up the inflammation. Please check with his doctor to see which of these would work best for him. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sin.html for more information. The treatment that was listed above to help your 3-year-old son’s runny nose should also help if sinusitis is your 10-year-old son’s problem.
Member Comments (2)
by ozark, Nov 16, 2004 12:00AM
your 10yr old probably has a sinusitis. sometimes it needs to be treated for 3 weks with antibiotics....as to your 3yr old, he may also have sinusitis ...his nose may be blocked higher up and he just drips from his nose ...is his eyes or face puffy? i would inquire about sinus xrays on him too.....my daughter had the night time cough for a while and the dr didnt think she had sinusitis...i insisted on xrays and she did have a sinus infection...was treated and the cough finally went away! good luck
