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Have Cough And Spots All Over Body. No Relief From Antihistimine And Codeine. Concerned
Question: My 18 year old daughter has been coughing severly for months and has what looks like insect bites all over body. I took her to urgent care but they just gave her antihistimine and codeine cough syrup but the bites and cough are still very bad, but we don't see any bugs anywhere.
Hi,
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I request you to answer few more questions so that I can answer you better.
1. Is there any abnormal sound while breathing?
2. Does this cough have any seasonal or diurnal variation?
3. Any other members of the family suffering from bronchial asthma or allergies?
4. Is there any history of weight loss or fever associated?
5. Does the rash on her body itch?
From your description I think your daughter may be having bronchial asthma associated with skin allergy. A X-ray chest and other investigations (including a blood examination, spirometry) will help in confirming the diagnosis after a physical examination.
Bronchial asthma (acute episode) is treated usually with bronchodilator nebulisation along with oral steroid. Allergic rash improves with antihistaminics. Calamine lotion helps. Rarely oral steroids are required if the rash does not subside and worsens even with antihistaminics. Try and avoid the allergen if possible (most of the cases it will be difficult to identify the allergen)
We use preventor therapy in recurrent episodes of bronchial asthma to prevent further attacks. We start with low dose inhaled steroid in such cases.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other concerns.
Take care
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I request you to answer few more questions so that I can answer you better.
1. Is there any abnormal sound while breathing?
2. Does this cough have any seasonal or diurnal variation?
3. Any other members of the family suffering from bronchial asthma or allergies?
4. Is there any history of weight loss or fever associated?
5. Does the rash on her body itch?
From your description I think your daughter may be having bronchial asthma associated with skin allergy. A X-ray chest and other investigations (including a blood examination, spirometry) will help in confirming the diagnosis after a physical examination.
Bronchial asthma (acute episode) is treated usually with bronchodilator nebulisation along with oral steroid. Allergic rash improves with antihistaminics. Calamine lotion helps. Rarely oral steroids are required if the rash does not subside and worsens even with antihistaminics. Try and avoid the allergen if possible (most of the cases it will be difficult to identify the allergen)
We use preventor therapy in recurrent episodes of bronchial asthma to prevent further attacks. We start with low dose inhaled steroid in such cases.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other concerns.
Take care
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
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