Can coughing cause this kind of pain in the ribs and only on one side? Would it be better to consult?

Question

My 4 year old son has been coughing and running a fever since yesterday afternoon. He has little appetite, nasal congestion and is tired. The fever rose to 39 yesterday despite the administration of advil for children. Today the fever stops with the medication, but comes back after the advil has finished its action. Tonight, my son complains of stomach pain before bedtime, nothing alarming in principle I tuck him in and put him to bed. He wakes up 2 hours later with a start and says his ribs hurt on the right side. He hasn't hit or hurt himself lately. His belly is not hard or swollen. Negative covid test for the whole family with similar symptoms Nasal hygiene method ste-justine is done regularly to clear the sinuses. The details don't seem to have been transmitted with my question 4 year old kid with cough and oral fever 39 since yesterday pm covid test negative he has little or no appetite, general tiredness, cough, nasal congestion and fever that persisted despite advil until today. However, today the fever has decreased only with the use of advil we did nasal hygiene 3-4 times a day today and yesterday massage his chest with babyrub but today in pm and tonight at bedtime he was complaining of stomach ache. He fell asleep and 2 hours later he woke up with a bit of a start complaining of pain in his right ribs. He quickly went back to sleep after I took him in my arms and put him back to bed Finally it is better since yesterday Thank you very much

Millie Yee · Accepted Answer

Good morning, Madam, It is good to hear that he is doing better! In general, there may be different reasons for rib pain (e.g. coughing), but it would be difficult to say exactly what the cause is for your child. Since the child is getting better, the consultation would usually not be necessary. In terms of symptoms, here are some things that might help: Continue with Advil or Tylenol for pain and fever if needed Continue with nasal hygiene to clean the nose and limit secretions in the throat Add honey to water to soothe the throat for children over 1 year old Gargle with water and salt (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 250 ml of water) for sore throat Drink plenty of water Get as much rest as possible I invite you to consult a doctor if the fever returns, the child's general condition deteriorates or worsens, rib pain worsens, several episodes of vomiting, etc. Thank you for your patience in responding, Millie Yee, pharmacy student Under the supervision of Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist I'm glad to hear that! Have a nice day!