Tips and tricks for dry/tickly cough

[tgm1974]

Bar the usual giving my 2 yr old son cough medicine and rubbing Karvol on his chest does anyone have any tried and tested remedies to help aid with a cough, especially of a night. I know I sound silly questioning about a cough but when your kept awake all night due to him coughing every 30 seconds you will ask the most stupidist question.

I will try anything, within reason of course

[annie0000]

Try to have the room at a moderate temperature - and keep the air moist - put a bowl of water near the radiator (unless it is electric!) put a couple of blankets under the head of his mattress so that he is lying more propped up.

Not a silly question, he needs his sleep so that he can get better and you need yours so that you can cope with him when he is awake!

[Sqad]

How long has he had this cough?

Is it loose or dry?

If loose, what is the colour of the sputum?

[annie0000]

It's dry squad - it's in the title - I was going to ask the same thing :o)

[Sqad]

annie...yes you are right.

If it has been long standing and persistent then one should consider asthma, but tgm hasn't answered yet.

[tamborine]

Tesco kids cough mixture 24p - buy it & all will be cleared within a week.

[Panic Button]

Any chance of mould in the house?

[tgm1974]

Hi everyone - he has had the dry cough for the last 3 days ... I know it will lift soon or break but sometimes you just wonder if there is anything more you can do to make sure he gets some better sleep.

His nose is still running clear so I know its not coming out of him yet til it starts possibly going green.

I will go to the Tesco later for that medicine ... I believe these cheaper medicines work better than the Tixylix, etc ones.

I normally have him sleep in a fleece with a vest underneath so he is not too hot nor cold but will try the radiator on low with bowl of water.

Keep any more tips coming before I have to start buying extra coverage concealor.

Cheers

[Sqad]

tgm...3 days....no big deal.....it will probably clear up by itself, but tambo's idea of the Tesco's cough medicine will make you both feel better.

[redman41]

Fisherman's Friend is the Bees knees !

[tamborine]

keep house warm so he only breathes in warm air and not cold air into his lungs.

[Sqad]

red.....don't mention that to logic.....he once sucked a Fisherman's Friend in a lift.

[redman41]

LOL Squad !
Was he banned from using the lift ever again ? lol

[dizmouk2009]

Let's hope it's not asthma - really awful in adults let alone young children. Breathing in steam has always worked with my colds and my asthma.

[Old_Geezer]

i don't know if things have changed in the last few decades, but I recall as a kid being given cough mixture by my mopther telling me it'd work. Never did, just made me more nervous when I did cough because I was supposed to have had the medicine.

If there is no obvious cause you can tackle, it may be that it just has to go away on it's own, taking whatever time it takes.

[Sqad]

dizmouk....it doesn't sound like Asthma.

Old _Geezer.........I agree.

[ojread2]

cough medicines will not work - they are little more than placebo's unless you use one that aids sleep and are full of sugars and/or sweenters - both bad for 2 year olds
What you can do, is offer plenty of fluids (yes, I know same old same old but it will work)
You can also off something that has a decongestant in it as this will help dry up the fluid dripping down the back of the throat ergo causing the tickle cough
However, if the cough becomes productive, do try to suppress it at all but see your GP and offer fluids regularly

[tgm1974]

Hi again

Yes its only been 3 days but he usually has a clear 2 weeks before he gets it again. It just feels like a never ending thing at the min. I will see how he goes over the next few weeks and maybe consider going to the Drs but Im more after a quick fix method at the min - especially starting a new job and having to be up at 6am most mornings.

[dizmouk2009]

There is no quick fix for illness.

[tamborine]

ojread2...ammoniam chloride, sodium citrate, menthol BP, Horehound, Squill tincture, Tolu, Tussilage, glucose, chloroform, methy/paraben, eucalyptus & aniniseed oil. Not just sugar!

Too many tots suffering too long & weakening due to lack of cough mixture. Some docs today are merely quacks!

[ojread2]

exactly my point - they are all very techy names and look pretty good to thoise mums out there looking to help their children but they wont do much at all for the cough. Off the shelf medicines do not cure, they may suppress and make you feel better but they do nothing more than that
I'm assuming you have read those ingredients off the bottle and actually don't know what they are?