Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Constant Coughing after Gagging on an Apple | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My 2-1/2-year-old son was eating an apple, and he was gagging. We could not remove or make him cough it up so we called 911. By the time we called and explained, I had removed it from his mouth and everything was fine he was crying and just very scared. Now it seems as he keeps coughing a lot. I believed it seems as he was catching a cold before, but it seems like the coughing does not stop. He naps and is constantly coughing like something is itching his throat. He is playing fine, eating ok. Please help.— Worried Father | | | ANSWER |
May 8, 2001 | | | Dear Worried Father,
I'm glad you mentioned the apple episode that preceded your son's constant coughing. It is entirely possible that he aspirated a small piece of apple into his airway. This can cause a persistent irritation that is making him cough. You should contact his healthcare provider now and fill her in on the whole story. Don't be alarmed if she mentions that he may need a procedure to look down into his airway for the apple. Nowadays procedures to look for--and remove--foreign bodies like apple pieces can readily be performed very safely on children. If there is a piece of apple down there, removing it may be exactly what he needs to cure his cough.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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