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Suggest Treatment For Cough In An Elderly Person
Question: my 90 yr old mom started coughing during night and has slept little in last 3 nights ....earlier today she began coughing more while eating and has runny nose.......discovered upon visiting her that room very low in humidity....hx of aspiration pneumonia
Brief Answer:
Upper endoscopy recommended to rule out acid reflux...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through the medical history of your 90 years old mom and understood your concerns.
Aspiration pneumonia is a type of pneumonia caused by entrance of foreign materials inside the bronchial tree. GERD (acid reflux) is often associated with aspiration pneumonia due to entrance of acidic liquid of the stomach into the bronchial tree that often happens during night explaining her coughing during night.
So, apart lungs, I'd like to check her stomach and rule out acid reflux through upper endoscopy.
Low humidity of the room is often causing spastic coughing during night and not aspiration pneumonia. Regulating humidity and anti-allergic medicines will perfectly control her coughing.
But, when, it comes to aspiration pneumonia, I want to rule out GERD first and get treated adequately.
Hope this helps.
Dr.Albana
Upper endoscopy recommended to rule out acid reflux...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through the medical history of your 90 years old mom and understood your concerns.
Aspiration pneumonia is a type of pneumonia caused by entrance of foreign materials inside the bronchial tree. GERD (acid reflux) is often associated with aspiration pneumonia due to entrance of acidic liquid of the stomach into the bronchial tree that often happens during night explaining her coughing during night.
So, apart lungs, I'd like to check her stomach and rule out acid reflux through upper endoscopy.
Low humidity of the room is often causing spastic coughing during night and not aspiration pneumonia. Regulating humidity and anti-allergic medicines will perfectly control her coughing.
But, when, it comes to aspiration pneumonia, I want to rule out GERD first and get treated adequately.
Hope this helps.
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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