Nanny Joe

Q: My daughter is 6 months old and has recently started coughing.Her cough is so bad that she coughs till vomits.Sometimes her milk feeds are vomited out.Is this serious?

A:

There are many kinds of coughs when it comes to babies and child.

Looks like your baby’s cough is what we call a ‘Cough with vomiting’.

If it is persistent,please see a Peadiatric as she need to be examined.

‘Cough withvomiting’ is caused because the infant often cough so much that it triggers their gag reflex,making them throw up. Usually,it is not to be alarmed unless the vomitting persists.

Also, if your child has a cough with flu or asthma at the Also, if your child has a cough with a cold or an asthma flare-up, he or she may throw up if lots of mucus drains into the stomach and causes nausea.

Q : Will my child outgrow asthma?

A :

Once a person’s airways become sensitive (asthma), they remain that way for life.

However, about 50% of children experience a noticeable decrease in asthma symptoms by the time they become adolescents, therefore appearing to have “outgrown” their asthma.

About half of these children will develop symptoms again in their late 20’s  and/or 40’s.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whose symptoms will decrease during adolescence and whose will return later in life.

Q : How do I know when my child’s asthma is well controlled?

A:

You know your child’s asthma is well controlled if, with medications, your child:

1. Lives an active, normal life
2. Has few troublesome symptoms
3. Attends school every day
4. Performs daily activities without difficulty
5. Has few urgent visits to the doctor, emergency department, or hospital for asthma
6. Has few medication side effects

By learning about asthma and how it can be controlled, you take an important step toward managing your child’s disease.

Work closely with your child’s asthma care team /pead to learn all you can about asthma, how to avoid triggers, what medications do, and how to correctly give them.

With proper care, your child can live free of asthma symptoms and maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.

Q : What do I do when my child has an asthma attack?

A:

If your child is showing symptoms of an asthma attack:

1. Give your child his/her reliever (bronchodilator) medicine according to the asthma action plan.
2. Wait five to fifteen minutes. If the symptoms disappear, your child should be able to resume whatever activity they were doing. If symptoms persist, follow your child’s asthma action plan for further therapy. If your child fails to improve or you are not sure what action to take, call your child’s physician.
3. Danger signs are severe wheezing, severe coughing, trouble walking and/or talking or blue lips and/or fingernails. If any of these are present go to the emergency department or your local ambulance.

Q: How can I tell if my child has asthma?

A:

Signs and symptoms to look for :

1. Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, night, or while laughing. It is important to know that cough may be the only symptom present.
2. Less energy during play
3. Rapid breathing
4. Complaint of chest tightness or chest “hurting”
5. Whistling sound (wheezing) when breathing in or out
6. See-saw motions (retractions) in the chest from labored breathing
7. Shortness of breath, loss of breath
8. Tightened neck and chest muscles
9. Feelings of weakness or tiredness

Keep in mind that not all children have the same asthma symptoms, and these symptoms can vary from asthma episode to the next episode in the same child. Also note that not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma.

In kids under 5 years of age, the most common cause of asthma-like symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold.

If your child has problems breathing, take him or her to the doctor immediately for an evaluation.