What could cause a child to have a random cough?

[Tree House Academy]

My 6 year old has had a random cough for a few months now. By random, I mean that he just coughs every now and then. Sometimes it is once a day, other times maybe a few times a day. He will go a day or two and not cough at all and then do it again, randomly. :confused: He has never had asthma or anything, doesn't have a runny nose or any sinus issues, and he is not sick and has not been sick since the first part of September. I am just totally baffled.

 

One thing that he did do was sniff his nose a lot for awhile when there was nothing in there. He finally stopped that and I really think it was a tic. I wonder if this is just another tic? He is one of those kids that, if you say the word "cough," he will immediately cough. Just now, as I am typing this, he decided he wanted a drink of OJ. He looked at his glass on the counter and then he coughed before getting up to get it and take a drink. He will play hard and never cough at all, but when he thinks about it, he makes himself. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

I really just want him to stop!

[elegantlion]

Asthma? Allergies? I never thought coughing alone could be a symptom of asthma. Here's some info from web-md.

[TN Mama]

My first guess would be allergies. This area is known for its allergies!

[kalanamak]

Allergies, post-nasal drip, but kids can get into a "cough habit". They showed us videos in med school so as to not mistake it for a "real" cough, and then put a kid on meds with possible side effects.

[katemary63]

My only asthma symptom is a cough. It could be that, allergies or a tic.

[melissel]

Allergies, post-nasal drip, but kids can get into a "cough habit". They showed us videos in med school so as to not mistake it for a "real" cough, and then put a kid on meds with possible side effects.

 

Really?! How do you get them out of the habit? DD7 has developed this incredibly annoying bark/cough. I've been giving her Zyrtec at night and it seems to quell it, but I've been wondering if it's more a habit than anything else. She says she can't not do it, which worries me :(

[Terabith]

Sorry. My guess is habit. My 6 yr old went through a several month spell of "coughing." I can't say it was for attention, but she would play it that way, sometimes, little miss drama queen. It actually started around the time her younger sister was dx with mild asthma. But I think it started with suddenly becoming AWARE of her throat and breathing, and then it became a habit. She didn't cough when we was concentrating on other things/ would start again when made aware of it, which was what convinced me it was a habit. Had an aunt who is a dr ask about her asthma. bc of her asthma. I had to say, "No, it's a bad habit that she sometimes milks for attention." She finally just outgrew it, I think because she found other things to think about for long enough (loose teeth) that her awareness switched to them rather than coughing.

[staceyobu]

Allergies, post-nasal drip, but kids can get into a "cough habit". They showed us videos in med school so as to not mistake it for a "real" cough, and then put a kid on meds with possible side effects.

 

Interesting. I tend to cough when I am nervous. Weird, huh?

[cylau]

Allergies? You can try some over the counter Zyrtec, just to see whether it helps or not.

[Guest mytwosons]

My DS (8) has Tourette's and coughing and sniffing are classic tics. With my experience, the way you describe it, it does sound like a tic. That doesn't mean he has TS, though. It could be a simple motor tic. Does he have any vocal ones?

[katemary63]

My DS (8) has Tourette's and coughing and sniffing are classic tics. With my experience, the way you describe it, it does sound like a tic. That doesn't mean he has TS, though. It could be a simple motor tic. Does he have any vocal ones?

 

I agree. Remember that a tic in childhood isn't that unusual and they often just go away. See a movement disorder specialist if the tic lasts more then six months.

 

(I have TS too.)

[DarlaS]

Keep an eye on it.

 

My youngest son did this from about July - October, and at some point it sounded different. I almost ignored it (because I knew it was a habit--he wasn't the first in our family to do this), but he did develop a sinus infection. Not from coughing, of course, but in addition to it.

 

He seems to have (thankfully!) stopped doing it now. Incidentally, the medicine he took for his sinus infection made him sick to his stomach, so I don't think he wants to chance any unnecessary doctor's visits! ;)

 

Any day now, he'll start a new habit I'm sure. :tongue_smilie: