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Severe Dry Cough. Had Viral Infection In The Past. No Fever. Any Medication Needed?
Question: Have a severe case of dry cough.
Had a viral infection 2 weeks back which got ok with anitibiotics, but the cough never went. The cough was not so bad earlier. Right now I have bouts of coughing throughout the day. Despite gargling with hotwater and salt and drinking warm water through out the day, Dont get relief from the dry cough. I do not have fever or a cold or fever at all. Its just cough. Have not slept for 3 days as the cough gets worse by night.
XXXXXXX
Had a viral infection 2 weeks back which got ok with anitibiotics, but the cough never went. The cough was not so bad earlier. Right now I have bouts of coughing throughout the day. Despite gargling with hotwater and salt and drinking warm water through out the day, Dont get relief from the dry cough. I do not have fever or a cold or fever at all. Its just cough. Have not slept for 3 days as the cough gets worse by night.
XXXXXXX
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
I understand your concern.
Sometimes cough, which is allergic in origin, takes a lot of time to subside. I would suggest the following:
a. Take tablet cetrizine 10 mg once a day. This should relieve the symptoms in the day time. If this does not produce relief, I would suggest that you take fexofenadine. This is a prescription drug and you would need to see your physician for the same.
b. In the night time, I would suggest that you take a medication called diphenhydramine. This is a prescription drug and I would suggest that you consult your physician for the same.
c. Please do steam inhalation twice a day.
d. Also, if you have noticed a sound during breathing, please talk to your physician about a drug called monteleukast. This would be useful if there is an associated narrowing of the airways.
e. Lastly, please keep your house scrupulously clean, change your pillow covers every day and wash your bed linen in hot water.
I hope I have addressed your concerns. I will be available for follow up queries.
Regards
Thanks for writing in.
I understand your concern.
Sometimes cough, which is allergic in origin, takes a lot of time to subside. I would suggest the following:
a. Take tablet cetrizine 10 mg once a day. This should relieve the symptoms in the day time. If this does not produce relief, I would suggest that you take fexofenadine. This is a prescription drug and you would need to see your physician for the same.
b. In the night time, I would suggest that you take a medication called diphenhydramine. This is a prescription drug and I would suggest that you consult your physician for the same.
c. Please do steam inhalation twice a day.
d. Also, if you have noticed a sound during breathing, please talk to your physician about a drug called monteleukast. This would be useful if there is an associated narrowing of the airways.
e. Lastly, please keep your house scrupulously clean, change your pillow covers every day and wash your bed linen in hot water.
I hope I have addressed your concerns. I will be available for follow up queries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor
I do not make a sound while breathing. I took a fexofenadine - the effect lasts for 4-5 hrs before the bout of coughing starts again.
Pls do let me know whats the prescription - how many a day should I take and what dosage?
Also for the diphenhydramine - should it be once a day for 5 days?
XXXXXXX
I do not make a sound while breathing. I took a fexofenadine - the effect lasts for 4-5 hrs before the bout of coughing starts again.
Pls do let me know whats the prescription - how many a day should I take and what dosage?
Also for the diphenhydramine - should it be once a day for 5 days?
XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back.
Unfortunately, the nature of allergies is such that only symptomatic treatment (treatment to address symptoms and not the cause) can be done. There is no cure for such an allergy. That is why drugs like cetrizine and fexofenadine relieve only the symptoms of the disease and do not address the cause of the disease. This is the reason why fexofenadine provides relief for some time and then the symptoms come back.
The nature of this forum is such that we are unable to examine patients. This makes it unethical for us to prescribe prescription drugs. Please consult your treating physician for the same.
Further, a nasal decongestant like xylometazoline drops (available as Otrivin drops) 2-3 times a day will also help relieve the cough.
However, do follow the advice I had given earlier and you'll be better soon.
I hope I have addressed your concerns. Please close this discussion if you have no more questions.
Regards
Thanks for writing back.
Unfortunately, the nature of allergies is such that only symptomatic treatment (treatment to address symptoms and not the cause) can be done. There is no cure for such an allergy. That is why drugs like cetrizine and fexofenadine relieve only the symptoms of the disease and do not address the cause of the disease. This is the reason why fexofenadine provides relief for some time and then the symptoms come back.
The nature of this forum is such that we are unable to examine patients. This makes it unethical for us to prescribe prescription drugs. Please consult your treating physician for the same.
Further, a nasal decongestant like xylometazoline drops (available as Otrivin drops) 2-3 times a day will also help relieve the cough.
However, do follow the advice I had given earlier and you'll be better soon.
I hope I have addressed your concerns. Please close this discussion if you have no more questions.
Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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