Q I have a five-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a nose allergy when she was two. Whenever she has an attack, she has a severe coughing fit and her nose runs. She coughs a lot when she lies down. The GP said that this is due to back drip from the nose. She takes all kinds of medicine but this gives her only temporary relief. She uses nose sprays and Ventolin.

I do not have any carpets, pets and soft toys at home. What triggers her attacks and why can't they be controlled?

A I agree that your child is likely to have allergies. As she has not experienced relief after taking allergy medication, there could be additional reasons to account for her problem.

Young children with allergies often have associated adenoid enlargement and or sinusitis. These can cause significant and prolonged flu-like symptoms. These children may have constant runny noses, nose blocks, heavy/audible breathing and may also snore. It is often the case that their history would be one of multiple clinic visits and poor response to many different medications.

The way to resolve this problem is to first make the correct diagnosis. It would be best to visit an ear, nose and throat doctor. With the correct diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment for allergy and/or enlarged adenoids and/or sinusitis can be given. In virtually all cases, excellent improvement in the child's condition will be achieved.

Dr Stephen Lee

Dr Stephen Lee is a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Raffles Hospital.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on May 28, 2008.