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Suggest Treatment For Chest Cold, Wheezing And Croaking Voice
Question: I believe I have a chest cold, with croaking voice, productive cough, and wheezing.....NO fever. A former mild asthmatic, and with extremely cold weather here, I am treating myself at home with guafenesin (in Mucinex) and Tylenol and detramethorfin (in HBP Coricidin, plus much water, tea, hot chocolate, etc. I am confused about the symptoms of bronchitis and pleurisy, and concerned that I'm doing the right thing at my advanced age of 81 THANK YOU!!
Brief Answer:
I'll explain the symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
first of all, Tylenol may prevent fever, so we can't be absolutely sure that your have no fever. If you're feeling very tired or feel your joints achy then perhaps you should check your temperature at least 12 hours after the last dose of Tylenol or whenever you have chills (if you do).
The symptoms you mentioned can represent an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD - particularly if you've had the same symptoms over and over again in the past) or a respiratory tract disease.
Bronchitis symptoms are what you've described. Pleurisy is something entirely different. Pleurisy means pain that follows the breathing movements. It gets worse as the patient breathes. The deeper the breath, the more intense the pain.
In cases like yours (with no fever) expectorants and mucolytic drugs may help. Cough suppressants should not be used when the cough is productive.
When a patient has COPD, antibiotic treatment is warranted during exacerbations, particularly when the sputum is increased and colored or the patient has shortness of breath.
If you do have the above (sputum, shortness of breath) then consultation with a pulmonary disease specialist would be appropriate. Inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids help a lot.
I hope I've given you a brief but concise presentation of your situation without too much medical jargon.
If you'd like to ask for clarifications, please use your follow-up questions and I'll be glad to answer.
Kind Regards!
I'll explain the symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
first of all, Tylenol may prevent fever, so we can't be absolutely sure that your have no fever. If you're feeling very tired or feel your joints achy then perhaps you should check your temperature at least 12 hours after the last dose of Tylenol or whenever you have chills (if you do).
The symptoms you mentioned can represent an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD - particularly if you've had the same symptoms over and over again in the past) or a respiratory tract disease.
Bronchitis symptoms are what you've described. Pleurisy is something entirely different. Pleurisy means pain that follows the breathing movements. It gets worse as the patient breathes. The deeper the breath, the more intense the pain.
In cases like yours (with no fever) expectorants and mucolytic drugs may help. Cough suppressants should not be used when the cough is productive.
When a patient has COPD, antibiotic treatment is warranted during exacerbations, particularly when the sputum is increased and colored or the patient has shortness of breath.
If you do have the above (sputum, shortness of breath) then consultation with a pulmonary disease specialist would be appropriate. Inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids help a lot.
I hope I've given you a brief but concise presentation of your situation without too much medical jargon.
If you'd like to ask for clarifications, please use your follow-up questions and I'll be glad to answer.
Kind 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. Yogesh D
Answered by
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