Constant throat clearing

[mshanson]

I have a question about our oldest son. He's 4.5, and in the last month, he's developed this thing with his throat. He's constantly clearing it. It's totally unconcious, he doesn't realize he's doing it. We've tried asking him if he has something in his throat and he says no, and looks at us like what are you talking about, lol. It's pretty frequent, several times an hour (sometimes several times a minute). Then other times he might go a couple/few hours and not do it at all, or hardly at all. One thing I do find it's definitely at it's worse when he's eating (it can be almost constant while he's eating) and right after he's eating. My father has a hiatal hernia, so this makes me wonder if maybe DS has something going on? He doesn't have any other signs that I can tell of reflux, but then again I know sometimes it's hard to tell.

I did mention it to our doctor, but she didn't even look at him, just said, "Is it bothering him?" (it's not, he doesn't even realize he's doing it), and then said, "Well it's probably post nasal drip." I really don't think it is. He has NO allergy signs at all.

I know sometimes throat clearing can just be a fluke tic in children's this age, and I don't think he has any signs of Tourette's, so I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing, but would you take him back to the doctor to see if something's going on in his throat?

[margypops]

Not talking to your son about it makes sense I have found very often the more talk the more it becomes , it seems to feed on the attention.Tics are very common also , it was the bubbling in his stomach that had a reflux symptom.I guess the med will tell you if it clears up his throat Good luck

[mshanson]

Well... all I know is it's driving us nuts. It's absolutely HORRIBLE when he's eating, I mean we're talking non-stop, serious. It honestly makes me wonder if he's having problems swallowing, because as soon as he's done eating it starts to taper off until while he does it sometimes, it's not very often. But then at mealtime again it'll be horrible.

[Burbridgebrapp]

I’m seeing this in my son and I have and my paternal side has a long history of mouth and throat cancer.

[margypops]

You could be right about the swallowing, I think you should speak to a doctor again , is he still taking the reflux meds?

[Sysmom]

I have a 4.5 yr old son who is doing exactly what you said your son is doing. Eating is at it's worse and tapers off but still does it. We've been to the drs. They gave us a nasal spray and also mentioned a benign tic. It's been going on since April 2013. It worries me but also drives me nuts that I have no clear answer. It's really bad if he eats something cold.  We've asked him and he doesn't really even realize he does it. In one minute I counted like 20 clears. Sometimes he rubs his right eye with the back of his had never his left.
My question to you is it's been well over a year...has your son stopped clearing his throat?  Have you discovered anything new?  Any new habits?  Should we get an allergist involved?   Is it beginning stages of tourettes? Hope this message reaches you.

[TanyaSTaylor]

Sysmom, how is your son? Did you find out what it was, is he better? My son is doing the same thing so I'm curious. Thanks

[CCRN70]

I found this post while searching because for the past year and a half my now 5.5 year old son started all sorts of grunting, throat clearing, etc. ... very irritating and never knowing he does it or able to explain why - its originally seemed to happen at meal time, but then all the time - after speaking with the Dr numerous times and thinking allergies, we tried OTC anti-histamines like Claritin and then Zyrtec, which is supposed to be stronger, but to no avail.  Just a week ago the Dr. said to try Flonase, a nasal steroid - within 2 days all noises have stopped!!!  I know this may not be the reason for all kids to have these noises, GERD or tics can also be to blame, but allergies was it for us and I wanted to share, because it seems like people post a ton of questions, but never if anything was resolved - I am hoping this is the last time I search for this :)

[TanyaSTaylor]

Thank you CCRN70

[Nicdris]

My 5 year old has also been doing the same for around 4 weeks now. This morning I think that he coughed up a tonsils stone. I wounded if this could of been the problem all a long.
How is your childern now?