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Chronic Cough

My 11-year-old daughter was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia after having a cough for about 2 months.  She is now infection-free but the cough persists.  Both her pediatrician and allergist say the cough is simply a habit.  However, she complains of feeling as if there's something in her throat that she's unable to cough up.  Meanwhile, her ribs ache, she has no appetite due to stomach pain (taking prevacid for possible acid reflux), and irritation in her throat b/c of the barking, dry cough.  The doctors recommended a psychological evaluation, which my daughter is totally against -- she can feel that the cough caused by something physical.  Is it possible that the onset of puberty has anything to do with this -- physically or emotionally?


This discussion is related to chronic pediatric cough.
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Avatar universal
Hi again,

I remembered you when I read about this:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/croup/ds00312
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Avatar universal
Hi,Mycoplasma pneumonia is atypical and notorious for it's slow long course,I would say if she is still experiencing symptoms then the infection isn't gone completely or she was misdiagnosed. If she has already taken a course of antibiotics and you have insurance,then I would suggest a Bronchoscopy,with Bronchoalveolar lavage. The psychological or "depressed" presumption is just doctor BS speak for "I don't understand this,and I only have 5 minutes out of my busy day to talk to and understand my patients symptomology". The coughing by this point is more than likely pretty painful,so I highly doubt she is doing it for attention or just to stay home from school. If anything your Pediatrician should offer a referral to a pulmonologist not a psychologist. Amen
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