Is This Cough Worrisome?

Updated on October 08, 2012
P.G. asks from San Antonio, TX
9 answers

5-1/2 year old son has a cough - it's been about a week and it's been getting better the last few days. Today, after running around a lot at the playplace it got worse. But then when he stopped running around (now that we're at home), not coughing much at all. He hasn't had a cough in a while, so I can't remember if this is normal or if the exercise cough could be something to worry about.

Any thoughts? No fever or anything at all during this cough.

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

If the cough wasn't completely gone to start with, the exercise will exacerbate it temporarily. Probably nothing to worry about, but if you're really concerned, you could always have him tested for asthma.

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A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

it's to be expected that it would get worse after physical exertion. any cough i've ever had, and i've had a million different kinds - i've been a smoker, had asthma, and of course your run-of-the-mill colds, has. as long as he's not presenting any other symptoms i'm sure he's fine.

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

Coughs can last for weeks. I wouldn't worry. I'd also have him take it easy until the cough is gone.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Is it possible that he has asthma? My son had a cough that went on and on, would get better and then worse. Dr. said it was asthma.

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I used to have chronic bronchitis - 3-4 weeks at a time. Not sleeping made it harder to recover. Coughs can get worse after exercise and are often worse at night (which is where the sleeping issue comes in). All that junk in the bronchial tubes can turn into exercise-induced asthma. I work regularly with strengthening the immune system to prevent these things from recurring. Happy to give you more info if you think this is going to be an ongoing thing. Much easier than all that testing, all those inhalers, etc.

Sounds like he's not tremendously sick (no fever etc.) but the lingering effects can be lingering and stubborn.

R.A.

answers from Boston on

Does the cough produce any phlegm? If not, I wouldn't worry to much about it, although I would keep an eye on it. If he has a cough and does excersize, and you noticed the cough more productive when playing, he probably has some kind of mucus from throat or lungs that is moving around since he is playing.

My problem with coughs in general is the duration, and the production of phlegm. Some coughs last for weeks, others days. If it continues for another week I would call his Pediatrician.

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M.C.

answers from Tampa on

Is it a deep wet cough? May be bronchitis. My son is 4 1/2 and he had a deep wet cough that I only heard in the mornings the first few days then morning and beditme. He acted normal with play, energy etc and did not have a fever. After 1 week, I made an appointment and almost considered cancelling since he acted so well despite his cough. I thought it may just be allergy related. Turns out he had a bad case of bronchitis with a ton of fluid in both ears. Its amazing to me how well he was handling it. Kids seem to handle illness so much better than adults. My friend has it now as well and is laying around and miserable. My son played, played, played. I always recommed getting checked out by a pro...better safe than sorry. Good luck.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

My experience has been that when a cough is a problem you will know it without a doubt. My one daughter has had pertussis (whooping cough) and walking pneumonia. I knew when I heard her cough she needed a doctor. Any other cough that I wasn't sure of did just eventually go away. I would not worry if I were you.

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

You might want to get him checked out. Both my sons (10 & 7) had a cough a couple of weeks ago. They didn't have a fever and didn't feel bad. I end up taking them in because it affected their sleep, but didn't expect anything. They both ended up having strep! I went in a couple of days later with a sore throat (thought it was just allergies) and ended up having strep too (1st time ever!). A friend of mine just took her 16 year old in last week with the same symptoms and he had strep too.

I was so surprised that you could have strep without feeling bad or having a fever!

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