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I Started Friday With A Sore Throat And Coughing. The
Question: I started Friday with a sore throat and coughing. The sore throat got better but now I'm coughing up brown and yellow very thick gunk that leaves a terrible taste in my mouth.
Brief Answer:
Upper respiratory infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
The symptoms that you described, with the sore throat and cough, would be typical for a upper respiratory infection, most likely caused by a virus. The sore throat usually is the worst on days 3 and 4 and then gradually resolves. The cough, however, can sometimes last for up to two to three weeks. The fact that you are now coughing up thick sputum may indicate that you have developed a bronchitis. Normally bronchitis does not require treatment with antibiotics, and I would normally recommend that you take an antihistamine decongestant combination to help with the cough, such as Zyrtec-D.
However, signs that you could be developing a bacterial infection, such as a pneumonia, would be difficulty breathing and a fever, which would be a temperature above 100.4 F (38.0 C). If you do develop any of those symptoms, I would recommend that you see a doctor for a chest x-ray, and if pneumonia is confirmed you should be started on antibiotics.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about any of that and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Upper respiratory infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor.
The symptoms that you described, with the sore throat and cough, would be typical for a upper respiratory infection, most likely caused by a virus. The sore throat usually is the worst on days 3 and 4 and then gradually resolves. The cough, however, can sometimes last for up to two to three weeks. The fact that you are now coughing up thick sputum may indicate that you have developed a bronchitis. Normally bronchitis does not require treatment with antibiotics, and I would normally recommend that you take an antihistamine decongestant combination to help with the cough, such as Zyrtec-D.
However, signs that you could be developing a bacterial infection, such as a pneumonia, would be difficulty breathing and a fever, which would be a temperature above 100.4 F (38.0 C). If you do develop any of those symptoms, I would recommend that you see a doctor for a chest x-ray, and if pneumonia is confirmed you should be started on antibiotics.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other 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
Answered by
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