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1. On 11/13 I Began Getting Sick. I Went To
Question: 1. on 11/13 i began getting sick. i went to the doctor with an extremely sore throat and cough.
2. tested negative for strep via a rapid test. no white spots. told it was a viral infection.
3. on 11/16 i was told my throat culture retirned positive for strep. i was given amoxcillin.
4. from 11/15 -11/18 i was unable to sleep due to a dry cough. it was no mucus. not productive. i got 6 hours over 3 days even while taking mucinex.
5. aggressive treatment (vicks, tea, salt water, honey, mucinex, cough drops, humidifier, and soup all day) helped me sleep and produce a productive cough on 11/19
6. today it is back to being dry. I am repeating the treatmwnt in %235.
the doctor is unsure why it is still a dry cough. he told me to switch to a z pack antibiotic. question:
a. what can i do to get rid of the dry cough?
b. any other tests i should get to rule out something more sinister?
c. how long to rid viral infection plus strep?
d. should i switch from one antibiotic (day 4 of 10) to the z pack ? as my doctor said the z pack is stronger
2. tested negative for strep via a rapid test. no white spots. told it was a viral infection.
3. on 11/16 i was told my throat culture retirned positive for strep. i was given amoxcillin.
4. from 11/15 -11/18 i was unable to sleep due to a dry cough. it was no mucus. not productive. i got 6 hours over 3 days even while taking mucinex.
5. aggressive treatment (vicks, tea, salt water, honey, mucinex, cough drops, humidifier, and soup all day) helped me sleep and produce a productive cough on 11/19
6. today it is back to being dry. I am repeating the treatmwnt in %235.
the doctor is unsure why it is still a dry cough. he told me to switch to a z pack antibiotic. question:
a. what can i do to get rid of the dry cough?
b. any other tests i should get to rule out something more sinister?
c. how long to rid viral infection plus strep?
d. should i switch from one antibiotic (day 4 of 10) to the z pack ? as my doctor said the z pack is stronger
Brief Answer:
Dry cough may last for 3 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I don't think you need to switch to z-pack. We normally use amoxicillin for 5 to 7 and never 4 days. A dry cough may last up to three weeks after a viral or bacterial infection. The fact that you are not having more sore throat, fever and productive cough means that you are healing and getting better but you may need more time for your dry cough to go. You can try robitussin which can suppress the dry cough. Also we often use desloratadine in dry cough.
Keep the throat moisturised using lozenges and use honey to sooth the throat.
You should get better as days pass. Wait for 7 days to repeat the throat culture to check if the throat or if the sore throat and fever don't turn back then amoxicillin was effective and no other antibiotics are needed.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dry cough may last for 3 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I don't think you need to switch to z-pack. We normally use amoxicillin for 5 to 7 and never 4 days. A dry cough may last up to three weeks after a viral or bacterial infection. The fact that you are not having more sore throat, fever and productive cough means that you are healing and getting better but you may need more time for your dry cough to go. You can try robitussin which can suppress the dry cough. Also we often use desloratadine in dry cough.
Keep the throat moisturised using lozenges and use honey to sooth the throat.
You should get better as days pass. Wait for 7 days to repeat the throat culture to check if the throat or if the sore throat and fever don't turn back then amoxicillin was effective and no other antibiotics are needed.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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