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I Recently Just Had An Upper Respiratory Infection And It
Question: I recently just had an upper respiratory infection and it went away. I had no symptoms then about a week later I have a tightness in my chest up by my collar bone and I can't breathe. When I breathe in I get a tickle that causes me to cough but it's a dry cough. Should I be concerned?
Brief Answer:
further evaluation needed...
Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Could you please clarify, when you said "it went away", did you mean it went away after some specific antibiotic therapy or without any specific treatment?
Well, this present symptoms could be due to musculoskeletal trauma, lung infection or even Pleurisy (inflammation of the coverings of the lung due to some underlying respiratory tract infection or fluid accumulation) or other secondary pathologies...
At this outset, I won't be too concerned but I'd definitely recommend you to get examined by a physician thoroughly. Along with it, a few investigations i.e. a hemogram, ESR, a chest X-ray should also be done to look into it in details.
For temporary symptomatic relief, the following can be tried:
-You may take a painkiller such as ACETAMINOPHEN 650mg (eg. Tylenol) up to thrice daily after some food for the next 3-4 days and observe the progress.
-Start taking some steam inhalation twice to thrice daily, it'll help as a decongestant and ease the tightness and other associated symptoms to some extent and clear the secretions/drainage (if any)...
-Start doing Chlorhexidine gargle twice daily...Please drink a lot of fluids. Have plenty of warm liquids (soups, broth, porridge etc.), they'll act as an immunity booster and fasten the recovery.
-If not treated with antibiotics earlier, then antibiotics therapy should also be initiated during this time, please discuss this with your treating doctor during the check-up...
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take Care
Kind Regards
further evaluation needed...
Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Could you please clarify, when you said "it went away", did you mean it went away after some specific antibiotic therapy or without any specific treatment?
Well, this present symptoms could be due to musculoskeletal trauma, lung infection or even Pleurisy (inflammation of the coverings of the lung due to some underlying respiratory tract infection or fluid accumulation) or other secondary pathologies...
At this outset, I won't be too concerned but I'd definitely recommend you to get examined by a physician thoroughly. Along with it, a few investigations i.e. a hemogram, ESR, a chest X-ray should also be done to look into it in details.
For temporary symptomatic relief, the following can be tried:
-You may take a painkiller such as ACETAMINOPHEN 650mg (eg. Tylenol) up to thrice daily after some food for the next 3-4 days and observe the progress.
-Start taking some steam inhalation twice to thrice daily, it'll help as a decongestant and ease the tightness and other associated symptoms to some extent and clear the secretions/drainage (if any)...
-Start doing Chlorhexidine gargle twice daily...Please drink a lot of fluids. Have plenty of warm liquids (soups, broth, porridge etc.), they'll act as an immunity booster and fasten the recovery.
-If not treated with antibiotics earlier, then antibiotics therapy should also be initiated during this time, please discuss this with your treating doctor during the check-up...
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
It went away on its own without treatment it took about 10 days then the tightness in my chest started about a week later I haven't been able to really breathe properly for 3 days. My O2 stats have been 97-99% my pulse has been elevated anywhere from 80 to 120 bpm
Brief Answer:
follow as already advised...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Well, the O2 stats can only give data of tissue level oxygenation, but it can't provide any details regarding structural and functional respiratory system. In other words, please go ahead with the check-up as already mentioned and get those few investigations done to look into it further...
The pulse rate is elevated because of the increased work of breathing, so it should be evaluated properly. Based on the findings, antibiotic therapy may also be required.
Meanwhile, please follow all other bits of advice given earlier, and see you stay afterwards...
Wish you a good health...
Take Care
Kind Regards
follow as already advised...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Well, the O2 stats can only give data of tissue level oxygenation, but it can't provide any details regarding structural and functional respiratory system. In other words, please go ahead with the check-up as already mentioned and get those few investigations done to look into it further...
The pulse rate is elevated because of the increased work of breathing, so it should be evaluated properly. Based on the findings, antibiotic therapy may also be required.
Meanwhile, please follow all other bits of advice given earlier, and see you stay afterwards...
Wish you a good health...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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