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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough While Having Acute Bronchitis

Posted on Thu, 9 Jun 2016

Question: Recently diagnosed with acute bronchitis. Given antibiotics and cough suppressant. Two weeks later and still coughing. I understand the coughing spells may last for another week or so. My main concern is that during a rough coughing spell, I get a burning, "pins and needles" feeling in my chest, arms and back. This symptom just started in the past 24 hours and is something I've never experienced in the past.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done chest x ray to rule out lung infection.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having pleuritic pain (burning, pins like sensation in chest on coughing).
Common cause for pleuritic pain is lung infection.
So better to get done chest x ray for the diagnosis of lung infection if at all present.
If chest x ray is normal then no need to worry for lung infection.
Sometimes bronchitis can also cause similar similar kind of pain.
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Have you ever undergone chest x ray?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (58 minutes later)

I have never smoked. I have not had a recent check x-ray. The pins and needles feeling occurs only when I have a coughing spell of consistent, shallow coughs that won't allow me to take breaths in between coughs. I did wheeze at the end of each exhale; however, the wheezing has greatly improved in the last few days and is almost non-existent.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done chest x ray to remove fear of lung infection.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry because you are improving as far as symptoms are concern.
But better to get done chest x ray to remove fear of lung infection.
If chest x ray is normal then no need to worry for lung infection.
Sometimes, vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause pins and needle sensations.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone vitamin B12 level?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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