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I Was Diagnosed With Pneumonia January 26 And Received A
Question: I was diagnosed with pneumonia January 26 and received a 10 day RX for antibiotics. Two weeks later I still was coughing and tired. After an MRI I was given another antibiotic for 10 days. It has been two months and I am still coughing. The urgent care Dr. took my vitals and found nothing wrong, but she did hear wheezing in my chest. She gave me and expectorant and told me to not participate in any activities and just rest.. I still have a cough and noticed a couple of red spots near my shoulder. When I saw the Dr. I was asked about a rash and didn't have one at that time, but now I do. Is there anything I should be doing?
Brief Answer:
Advises given on the cough, kindly asked for some more information on the rash
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
I carefully read your query and here is my advise:
Cough and tiredness can last for several weeks up to 3 months after a treatment of pneumonia, this is because after the infection is treated the lungs need to repair the damage done by the infection and in some cases it might take quite long for these repairs to happen. It is important though that you might see a physiotherapist that will do some exercises to help you expand your lungs and strengthen the breathing muscles to prevent or treat atelectasis (this is collapse of some of the lung tissue). Atelectasis might also cause wheezing in the chest and fatigue so it is important that you get physiotherapy to help improve it.
Resting is good but if you just rest you use your lungs less and atelectasis might progress so it is important to rest as needed but have exercises to strengthen the breathing muscles and open up the lungs.
As for the rash I need to have some more information related to it so I can better understand which is the cause of it. Having a picture of the rash might be of paramount help as well. Kindly let me know of the following:
- for how long have you had the rash?
- can you explain it a little more? Is it flat or raised, is it itchy, is it painful, scaly, well defined, how many spots have you noticed?
- can you describe how did it start and how is it progressing?
- do you have a rash on other areas of the body?
- does the rash blanch when you press with a glass on it?
- any fever or other complaints (other than cough or tiredness)?
- any joint pain recently?
- do you take any other medications for other reasons, especially blood thinners?
- any lesions in the mouth, eyes or vaginal area?
Please let me know of the above information related to the rash and if possible please upload a picture so I can have a look at it so I can be of better help to you.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Advises given on the cough, kindly asked for some more information on the rash
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
I carefully read your query and here is my advise:
Cough and tiredness can last for several weeks up to 3 months after a treatment of pneumonia, this is because after the infection is treated the lungs need to repair the damage done by the infection and in some cases it might take quite long for these repairs to happen. It is important though that you might see a physiotherapist that will do some exercises to help you expand your lungs and strengthen the breathing muscles to prevent or treat atelectasis (this is collapse of some of the lung tissue). Atelectasis might also cause wheezing in the chest and fatigue so it is important that you get physiotherapy to help improve it.
Resting is good but if you just rest you use your lungs less and atelectasis might progress so it is important to rest as needed but have exercises to strengthen the breathing muscles and open up the lungs.
As for the rash I need to have some more information related to it so I can better understand which is the cause of it. Having a picture of the rash might be of paramount help as well. Kindly let me know of the following:
- for how long have you had the rash?
- can you explain it a little more? Is it flat or raised, is it itchy, is it painful, scaly, well defined, how many spots have you noticed?
- can you describe how did it start and how is it progressing?
- do you have a rash on other areas of the body?
- does the rash blanch when you press with a glass on it?
- any fever or other complaints (other than cough or tiredness)?
- any joint pain recently?
- do you take any other medications for other reasons, especially blood thinners?
- any lesions in the mouth, eyes or vaginal area?
Please let me know of the above information related to the rash and if possible please upload a picture so I can have a look at it so I can be of better help to you.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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