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Is Medical Advice Necessary For Severe Cough?
Brief Answer:
it depends
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You can have a bad cough from a viral upper respiratory infection or viral bronchitis and in those cases there is not much a doctor can do since viruses do not respond to antibiotics. In those cases you can just take over the counter medicines for symptom relief.
If it is something more serious then a doctor should be consulted. Signs of a more serious infection would include fever, shortness of breath or coughing up blood.
If any of those apply have him see a doctor as soon as possible.
Also even if it seems to be a viral infection, if he is not getting better in 10-14 days then he should also see a doctor.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
it depends
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You can have a bad cough from a viral upper respiratory infection or viral bronchitis and in those cases there is not much a doctor can do since viruses do not respond to antibiotics. In those cases you can just take over the counter medicines for symptom relief.
If it is something more serious then a doctor should be consulted. Signs of a more serious infection would include fever, shortness of breath or coughing up blood.
If any of those apply have him see a doctor as soon as possible.
Also even if it seems to be a viral infection, if he is not getting better in 10-14 days then he should also see a doctor.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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