Nov 04 2008
happy / unhappy coughers?
People can cough because they are suffering from a cold or pneumonia, having reflux or runny nose (rhinitis). But also smokers cough a lot; yes, we are even back on our loved “old” theme smoking. But also patients with asthma cough. I found an interesting blog extract about coughing children and their parents (http://durhamregion.typepad.com/neil_crone/2007/01/anything_but_a_.html):
“Is there anything worse than having a kid with a cough in the house? Coughing is the worst. Frankly I’ll take a vomiter over a cougher any day of the week. With a puker, the kid hurls once, twice, maybe even three times and they’re done…wiped out and usually sound asleep. Hurling takes a lot out of you…literally and figuratively. But with a cougher, the kid will keep not only himself up but you as well. In fact, most of the time, in my experience, with a kid, you are the only one who is truly and completely unable to sleep at all. A parent is hardwired to become instantly and fully awake at the faintest sign of a child’s distress. After the first cough, you are bolt upright. But the kid, the cougher, doesn’t necessarily wake himself up. “
So there are happier and unhappier coughers….?!?
Hey, Doc, if a child with asthma coughs in their sleep at night, should you wake them up and make them use their inhaler? or increase their daytime medication? or both? Ta.
If the cough at night is most likely asthma, then increase the dose of controller… A well controlled asthma and thus, a “coughless” night, not only increases the child’s health status, but also the parents’ quality of sleep…
Merci vielmals!
Hi, I was wondering whether you have any advice for management of the persistent dry cough you can see in lung fibrosis. There is an aquaintance of mine with this condition (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) who has tried everything (inhalers, cough medicines etc) and is still very troubled byt it, and is at the end of his tether. any suggestions?
Hi, Eli, sorry for my late response! Difficult to answer. By my knowledge, there is only one small trial looking on that issue (Hope-Gill Bd. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003;168:995-1102) suggesting the use of systemic steroids. However, in term of prognosis, systemic steroids do not have any beneficial effects. In a few of my cases, the use of a long-acting anticholinergicum and/or low doses of codeine had some beneficial effect. What is your experience?
very GOOD!!! =)
Hi, good post. I have been woondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site.