Bad Cough - when do I take her in?

Mommy2Isabella wrote: Bella has had a runny nose for probably going on 2 weeks now. Just clear ... no funky colors!!

Well Friday she started with a cough and a low grade fever. Her cough sounds productive but how can I tell she doesn't really show me ... *YUCK* sorry TMI... she has coughing fits at night as well.

The fever is pretty much non existent but she is still coughing, what can I do or when should I take her to the ped??

lovemy2 replied: I would take her in now - Dylan has had the same thing for going on three weeks now - he has had two ear infections - we are on our second round of antibiotics for it which I think has held the cough at bay from becoming bronchitis or pnemonia....

Mommy2Isabella replied: Thanks !!

I hope its nothing serious, I know she doesn't have an ear infection because she would have draining from her tubes, well thats what they told me anyway.

Not to mention she is not sleeping like she should be because of the coughing I assume ...

jcc64 replied: Without a significant fever, if it was my child, I'd assume it's viral and not take her in and expose her to everyone else's germs at the dr's office. That is really not an inordinate amount of time for a child to have a virus like that. If she spikes a decent fever, I'd consider taking her in, but tbh, if it's viral, which it most likely is, there's nothing they can do for her that you can't do yourself.

gr33n3y3z replied: Just keep a close eye on her if she gets worse dont play with it its not worth it

PrairieMom replied: I usually wait until my kids have been sick for 14 days, with no signs of improvement. usually a virus will have run its coarse by then.
Dr's offices are the germiest places, and I don't want to expose my kids to that.
last summer ben had a 104 fever off and on for a week before I brought him in. they just told me, "well, he can't be that sick, look how happy he is. "

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Ditto.

Aiden just got over a virus and his cough, which was HORRIBLE by the way, lasted for almost 3 weeks! No fever, but had some cold symptoms because he is also teething. If she is not irritable and doesn't have a fever, and her 'snot' is clear, then it's most likely a virus which will not be helped by antibiotics. It has to run it's course, which unfortunately, can last what seems like forever.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Run a cool mist humidifier. Run a HOT shower, close the door, and let her play in the steam. Get some baby Vics and put it on her chest and the bottom of her feet (I know sounds weird, but it does work, trust me). We also got one of those Vics plug-ins, they work pretty well.

ETA: the coughing may be from the drainage coming from her nose as well, going down her throat.

Mommy2Isabella replied: Thanks, I think we are going to get her a cool mist humidifier tonight. I also am going to the health food store and going to get her some herb tincture for her cough, it is supposed to loosen up mucous and help her get it out of her chest.

She is still playing like normal and her usual non listening skills are still in full effect.

Thanks guys!!

moped replied:
Well if her non listening skills are in full effect then that is great - LOL

I hear ya on that one!

Calimama replied: Hope shes feeling better!

My3LilMonkeys replied:
That is what I was going to suggest - I was skeptical when it was mentioned to me but it works like a dream!!!

kit_kats_mom replied: I just got back in town from visiting my mom. Woody took Lauren in because of a cough and she has a pretty bad case of bronchitis. I guess we are getting the "second wave" according to the ped.