My child has had a cough for months that hasn't responded to antibiotics, steroids, or allergy meds. I don't believe my family practitioner is providing appropriate care and would like to see a specialist but I'm not sure what type to contact. Do I need an interal medicine doc or a pediatric allergist or...??? The FP is beginning to suspect asthma at this point but my child is not wheezing or having difficulty w/physical activity or any of the other asthma symptoms, just a chronic cough.
To add more details, I don't need referals, can see any doc I like who accepts my insurance. Even though he's not responding to prednisone, singular & claritin, FP said keep treating & come back in Oct (coughing since June 1) for recheck. It's gotten worse in last 2 wks even w/meds. With school starting I believe more aggressive evaluation & treatment is in order!

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When my son was five years old (he is 18 now) he got a terrible cough every time he stepped into the hockey arena. We would take him to the doctor and it was always bronchonitis. He would get an antibiotic and then get better. One summer he had a really bad cough, and the pediatrician said he had asthma. He wanted me to get a nebulizer for him. I went to the pharmacist (small town) and he said I should get a second opinion because this doctor said everyone had asthma or allergies. I took him to an asthma/allergist specialist. He did not have asthma, but the doctor tested him for allergies and said he had those. He started taking the shots but did not get better. I am not big on filling a child up with medication so took him to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. He x-rayed his sinuses (front and side view–the allergist only x-rayed the front). The ENT said that his adenoids were so big that they were causing the constant pressure in his sinuses. He ended up having his tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. He was a totally different child after that. He did not take any more allergy shots. He used to snore really bad before he had this surgery, but now you can hardly hear him. Before you start giving her child all kinds of drugs, get different opinions. I think doctors are really quick to say people have allergies and asthma. Good luck.
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