5Yr Old With Hacking Cough.

[SMP]

Since a BBQ on August bank holiday my 5yr old grandson has had a hacking, barking cough. It is made worse on exercise and can be worse at night. It also seems to get worse after eating/drinking something cold or being in a cold atmosphere. He has had some wheezing (now and when younger) but not constant and has been given a salbutamol inhaler and more recently a beclametasone inhaler. Mum has chronic asthma. Last weekend he was coughing badly and complaining of earache. On examination there was a bloody discharge in the ear canal and was given antibiotics for suspected perforated eardrum. Several people on hearing him cough have mentioned that he sounds like he has whooping cough although he has no "whoop" just a really harsh barking cough that goes on and on. He has had all immunisations. Going Drs tomorrow but any ideas anyone? Thanks.

[Sqad]

Sounds like asthma and his treatment is the conventional treatment for asthma.

The ear is a bit of a concern.......is there a discharge and if so does it smell?

[SMP]

Sqad,there was a discharge from last Sunday until about Thursday, visible in the ear canal and on his pillow every morning. Quite dark red to start then slightly pinkish by the end of the week. Finished his antibiotics on Friday. Had his hair washed tonight and I protected the ear with a bit of cotton wool covered with Vaseline. When I was wiping the Vaseline away from the opening of the ear canal I thought it smelt a bit funny. He seems ok in himself just this constant coughing. As I said no wheezing but he has been on the beclametasone some weeks now and almost constant salbutamol since September.

[Sqad]

Well, if the smell was "cheesy, fusty,clingy" then i would ask if he could be referred to an ENT specialist as it may be something more than just a perforated ear......no big deal....but requiring specialist treatment.