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Suggest Treatment For Dry Cough,pain In Head And Neck Area

Posted on Fri, 16 May 2014

Question: I am having cough and flu kind of symptoms for last 6 days, it was initially with mild sore throat,body ache and slight fever..now the body ache and fever has reduced but the dry cough continues and it occurs in bouts at the interval of 30 mins..This coughing has resulted in head remaining heavy and also lot of pain in head and neck area...Initially I took expectorant XXXXXXX for three days along with Acelofenac and Paracematol combination tablet three times a day and following it with Ambroxol XXXXXXX for last three days..I have not taken any antibiotic till date...Since the dry cough continues and at times with mild bodyache and mild fever ..Do I need to start antibiotic..Can I take Azithromycin 500mg one tablet everyday for three days ?

Answered by Dr. Deepashree (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
start penicillin antibiotic.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query.
I probably feel its better you start taking antibiotics.
If infection is not adequately treated , then there is on and off fever, headache, heaviness persisting.
So in my opinion, I feel your better start antibiotics.
Penicillin group of antibiotics are drug of choice .
Azithromycin also can be taken, but in my experience many bacteria have become resistant to azithromycin.
So when you take azithro, initially you feel better but later throat pain , fever, cough will recurr after a week.
So I suggest you to start penicillin antibiotics+ paracetamol and diclofenac combination tablet + decongestant.
Steam inhalation will help to reduce heaviness of head.avoid cold and oily foods.hydrate properly.
Dry cough will be because of throat congestion.
Once your throat infection reduces congestion also will reduce, cough will automatically come down.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T