Suggest Remedy For Severe Cough When Diagnosed With Pneumonia

Posted on Thu, 30 Jul 2015

Question: my mother is 77, with history of pneumonia, 2 weeks ago she is coughing hard (dry cough) to the point when she cough she gasp for air. i brought her to the doctor and she gave her anti biotics and cough meds. after one week the coughing lessens but still she is coughing hard, im worried, then i brought her to the hospital for x-ray and this is the result
minimal streaky and hazy densities noted in both lower lobes
heart is enlarged
aorta is atheromatous
diaphragm, sinuses and bony thorax are intact

impression:
PNEUMONIA, BOTH LOWER LOBES
CARDIOMEGALLY WITH ATHEROMATOUS AORTA

doc what does it mean? my mother has pneumonia again? pls advice me

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get done 2d echo.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your mother's situation and problem.
In my opinion, she should consult cardiologist and get done ecg, 2d echo to rule out congestive cardiac failure (CCF).
She is having cardiomegaly on chest x ray and bilateral lower lobe haziness.
So possibility of Pulmonary edema is more.
And early stages of Pulmonary edema, patient is having only cough.
So better to first rule out CCF.
She may need diuretic drugs.
Another possibility is post infectious bronchitis.
Pneumonia can cause inflammatory changes in lung. And so bronchitis is common after pneumonia. So get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). She may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
So discuss these possibilities with your doctor, first diagnose herself and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar