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Hi. I’ve Initially Got Sick With Fever, Aches And Pains,
Question: Hi. I’ve initially got sick with fever, aches and pains, cough after traveling to the beach back at the end of May which turned into an ear infection. I treated the ear infection with amoxicillin clauvanate. That got better and then had to travel over seas for work. Prior to going I had shortness of breath so they did chest X-ray which was normal and breathing tests- all normal. They said although I’m still coughing lungs are clear and chest X-ray, ekg all normal. I returned about a week and a half ago and developed a cold which turned into having no voice again, sore throat etc. went to ent and he said everything looks clear despite symptoms but took a swab of my nose which came back postive for Diphtheroids bacteria. Although my symptoms improved- he said to take amoxicillin. I feel better except for itchy throat and mild congestion only at times like when outside in the grass. My primary care thinks the majority of my symptoms are allergy related and wants me to take Claritin. And she also said some bacteria in the nose is normal so she didn’t agree with more antibiotics. Can I take Claritin and should I continue the antibiotics? Thank you.
Hi. I’ve initially got sick with fever, aches and pains, cough after traveling to the beach back at the end of May which turned into an ear infection. I treated the ear infection with amoxicillin clauvanate. That got better and then had to travel over seas for work. Prior to going I had shortness of breath so they did chest X-ray which was normal and breathing tests- all normal. They said although I’m still coughing lungs are clear and chest X-ray, ekg all normal. I returned about a week and a half ago and developed a cold which turned into having no voice again, sore throat etc. went to ent and he said everything looks clear despite symptoms but took a swab of my nose which came back postive for Diphtheroids bacteria. Although my symptoms improved- he said to take amoxicillin. I feel better except for itchy throat and mild congestion only at times like when outside in the grass. My primary care thinks the majority of my symptoms are allergy related and wants me to take Claritin. And she also said some bacteria in the nose is normal so she didn’t agree with more antibiotics. Can I take Claritin and should I continue the antibiotics? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Ok to take Claritin
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
It sounds like you have had a rough month, and may have had multiple separate infections, which sometimes can happen. Most likely these were viral, which can have lingering symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, hoarse voice, etc. for several weeks. I agree with trying Claritin, as sometimes these infections can make allergies worse, and taking Claritin may help with the symptoms. I agree that unless you were having a fever or other signs of a bacterial infection, I probably wouldn't have prescribed antibiotics, but now that you have started, as long as the course is not too long (only a week or so), I would just go ahead and finish it, since starting and stopping antibiotics like that can cause bacterial resistance.
Otherwise, I suspect you are still recovering from your respiratory illnesses, and would expect that you will gradually improve and the symptoms should resolve within the next couple of weeks.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Ok to take Claritin
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
It sounds like you have had a rough month, and may have had multiple separate infections, which sometimes can happen. Most likely these were viral, which can have lingering symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, hoarse voice, etc. for several weeks. I agree with trying Claritin, as sometimes these infections can make allergies worse, and taking Claritin may help with the symptoms. I agree that unless you were having a fever or other signs of a bacterial infection, I probably wouldn't have prescribed antibiotics, but now that you have started, as long as the course is not too long (only a week or so), I would just go ahead and finish it, since starting and stopping antibiotics like that can cause bacterial resistance.
Otherwise, I suspect you are still recovering from your respiratory illnesses, and would expect that you will gradually improve and the symptoms should resolve within the next couple of weeks.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Ok to take Claritin
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
It sounds like you have had a rough month, and may have had multiple separate infections, which sometimes can happen. Most likely these were viral, which can have lingering symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, hoarse voice, etc. for several weeks. I agree with trying Claritin, as sometimes these infections can make allergies worse, and taking Claritin may help with the symptoms. I agree that unless you were having a fever or other signs of a bacterial infection, I probably wouldn't have prescribed antibiotics, but now that you have started, as long as the course is not too long (only a week or so), I would just go ahead and finish it, since starting and stopping antibiotics like that can cause bacterial resistance.
Otherwise, I suspect you are still recovering from your respiratory illnesses, and would expect that you will gradually improve and the symptoms should resolve within the next couple of weeks.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Ok to take Claritin
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
It sounds like you have had a rough month, and may have had multiple separate infections, which sometimes can happen. Most likely these were viral, which can have lingering symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, hoarse voice, etc. for several weeks. I agree with trying Claritin, as sometimes these infections can make allergies worse, and taking Claritin may help with the symptoms. I agree that unless you were having a fever or other signs of a bacterial infection, I probably wouldn't have prescribed antibiotics, but now that you have started, as long as the course is not too long (only a week or so), I would just go ahead and finish it, since starting and stopping antibiotics like that can cause bacterial resistance.
Otherwise, I suspect you are still recovering from your respiratory illnesses, and would expect that you will gradually improve and the symptoms should resolve within the next couple of weeks.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
thank you. apparently wheb i sent question some of it didnt come out - i did test positive for bacteria in my nose called diptheroids after returning oversead however i tested positive while symptoms were improving and ent said I looked clear. now i have congestion back while on antibitics which is why i should try claritin correct? my general practinoer primary care didnt even want me to take the antibiotic knowing i tested postive for the bacteria as said most lf these things clear up witjout it.
thank you. apparently wheb i sent question some of it didnt come out - i did test positive for bacteria in my nose called diptheroids after returning oversead however i tested positive while symptoms were improving and ent said I looked clear. now i have congestion back while on antibitics which is why i should try claritin correct? my general practinoer primary care didnt even want me to take the antibiotic knowing i tested postive for the bacteria as said most lf these things clear up witjout it.
Brief Answer:
Yes, taking Claritin would be fine
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that's right, taking Claritin would be fine and may help. I agree that the bacteria in your nose is likely not causing any troubles, as there may be many different bacteria in our noses that are not causing problems, and so usually we do not treat them (since there is no proven benefit to doing that). However, since you started the antibiotics already, I would suggest finishing them, so that the bacteria do not develop resistance from antibiotics from taking an incomplete course of them (if bacteria are exposed to antibiotics for just a little while, some of them may survive, and those may be bacteria that have a resistance to the antibiotic, which will make it harder to treat an infection from that bacteria in the future).
I hope that makes sense. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Yes, taking Claritin would be fine
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that's right, taking Claritin would be fine and may help. I agree that the bacteria in your nose is likely not causing any troubles, as there may be many different bacteria in our noses that are not causing problems, and so usually we do not treat them (since there is no proven benefit to doing that). However, since you started the antibiotics already, I would suggest finishing them, so that the bacteria do not develop resistance from antibiotics from taking an incomplete course of them (if bacteria are exposed to antibiotics for just a little while, some of them may survive, and those may be bacteria that have a resistance to the antibiotic, which will make it harder to treat an infection from that bacteria in the future).
I hope that makes sense. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Yes, taking Claritin would be fine
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that's right, taking Claritin would be fine and may help. I agree that the bacteria in your nose is likely not causing any troubles, as there may be many different bacteria in our noses that are not causing problems, and so usually we do not treat them (since there is no proven benefit to doing that). However, since you started the antibiotics already, I would suggest finishing them, so that the bacteria do not develop resistance from antibiotics from taking an incomplete course of them (if bacteria are exposed to antibiotics for just a little while, some of them may survive, and those may be bacteria that have a resistance to the antibiotic, which will make it harder to treat an infection from that bacteria in the future).
I hope that makes sense. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Yes, taking Claritin would be fine
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that's right, taking Claritin would be fine and may help. I agree that the bacteria in your nose is likely not causing any troubles, as there may be many different bacteria in our noses that are not causing problems, and so usually we do not treat them (since there is no proven benefit to doing that). However, since you started the antibiotics already, I would suggest finishing them, so that the bacteria do not develop resistance from antibiotics from taking an incomplete course of them (if bacteria are exposed to antibiotics for just a little while, some of them may survive, and those may be bacteria that have a resistance to the antibiotic, which will make it harder to treat an infection from that bacteria in the future).
I hope that makes sense. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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