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Question: I have a chronic cough for over a month. Cough is much worse at night when I'm lying down coughing starts that won't stop .. My sputum is clear maybe white sometimes but I sound 'rattle like' in my throat when I lying down. I have to stand up to make my cough stop & have been constantly sucking on cough lozenges! I don't have a fever I'm off & on congested nasally & sometimes have a headache. I have recently lost my sense of smell & taste buds are different. I have a somewhat white appearance to my tongue & some tiny red bumps.
I'm on vacation in Alaska & don't know where I could go for medical treatment! Often even during the day my cough is rattly...I get less than 3 hours of sleep a night
I'm on vacation in Alaska & don't know where I could go for medical treatment! Often even during the day my cough is rattly...I get less than 3 hours of sleep a night
Brief Answer:
Need cultures and chest Xrays
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you had gone through. Based on the history you have shared, it seems as if you are suffering from acute respiratory tract infection whether bronchitis which is extending upto upper respiratory tract infection as is explained by the change of taste and smell and headache in your case which may due to extension upto sinuses. As you have already taken claritin and zyrtec and other anti histamines and anti inflammatory drugs, now is the time for antibiotics. You needed them earlier too and may be it hadn't extended so far. To start with get a chest Xray and Xray Paranasal sinuses to look for extension of infection. Using antibiotics like augmentin or azithromycin may be helpful, but if sputum can be sent for culture and sensitivity and antibiotics choice be made on the basis of reports it would be most appropriate approach. Using steam inhalations and bronchodilators will also be helpful. Using expectorant syrups instead of cough suppressants is of more help. Wishing you a speedy recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
Need cultures and chest Xrays
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you had gone through. Based on the history you have shared, it seems as if you are suffering from acute respiratory tract infection whether bronchitis which is extending upto upper respiratory tract infection as is explained by the change of taste and smell and headache in your case which may due to extension upto sinuses. As you have already taken claritin and zyrtec and other anti histamines and anti inflammatory drugs, now is the time for antibiotics. You needed them earlier too and may be it hadn't extended so far. To start with get a chest Xray and Xray Paranasal sinuses to look for extension of infection. Using antibiotics like augmentin or azithromycin may be helpful, but if sputum can be sent for culture and sensitivity and antibiotics choice be made on the basis of reports it would be most appropriate approach. Using steam inhalations and bronchodilators will also be helpful. Using expectorant syrups instead of cough suppressants is of more help. Wishing you a speedy recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Thank you so much for your fast response. Does the anti-inflamatory help the bronchitis? To me it seems like everythings ' bronchial' with the rattling like cough & constant tickle that starts the urge to cough. If i have an infection process how come i dont have a fever? And my sputum is mostly clear with only occasional white & rarely yellow appearance ( that only happens ar night ).. Should instill ask for a sputum culture?
Brief Answer:
Yes it is possible to have infection with no fever
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for sharing your input and appreciation. Yes anti inflammatory drugs help to reduce inflammation of bronchial walls and give relief but anti histamines and decongestants or inhalator steroids or brochodilators all act in conjunction to give maximal benefits. And yes sputum culture can at times isolate the exact bug responsible if it is infective and not allergic. Absence of fever can indicate allergic origin; but at the same time it is also possible to have infection with no fever.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. It was nice communicating with you. In future you can reach me directly through profile by directed query in case of any questions.
Regards
Yes it is possible to have infection with no fever
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for sharing your input and appreciation. Yes anti inflammatory drugs help to reduce inflammation of bronchial walls and give relief but anti histamines and decongestants or inhalator steroids or brochodilators all act in conjunction to give maximal benefits. And yes sputum culture can at times isolate the exact bug responsible if it is infective and not allergic. Absence of fever can indicate allergic origin; but at the same time it is also possible to have infection with no fever.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. It was nice communicating with you. In future you can reach me directly through profile by directed query in case of any questions.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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