Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough

Posted on Mon, 15 Feb 2016

Question: I' ve had a wet productive cough for over 10 days. The coughing is so severe I go into coughing spasms. Some tightness in my chest with breathing. I have a very stuffed up nose and a lot of yellowish drainage, both with sinuses and cough. I've been running a firtst low grade 100 degree, then last night 101 degree fevers, the coughimg us non stop and worse when i go outside in the freezing weather. I have a h/o asthma anfd am immune suppresses. (sjogrens)' Ive been taking tylenol and using my inhalers.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are mostly having worsening of asthma.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of worsening of asthma is more in your case.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
3. Chest x ray to rule out lung infection because you are taking immunosuppression drugs.
PFT will tell you about severity of the disease and treatment of asthma is based on severity only.
You will need Inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Oral combination of antihistamine and anti allergic drugs is also beneficial in your case.
Hope I have solved your query. 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 (15 minutes later)

Do you suspect a sinus infection at all? With fever and yellow sputum, I was thinking maybe this, also?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It might be Sinus and asthma both.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you are right, it might be Sinus infection. But only Sinus infection can not cause chest tightness, breathing difficulty and high grade fever (101).
So possibility of worsening of asthma due to lung infection is more in your case.
Sinus trouble can be secondary to asthma.
Please let me know
1. Do you have allergies?
2. Do you have wheezing at night?
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 (1 hour later)

I don't wheeze because I have cough variant asthma. I just talked to my pulmonary doctor who is putting me on antibiotics, prednisone and ordered a chest X ray.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your doctor also wants to rule out lung infection by chest x ray.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Your doctor also wants to rule out lung infection, so he has ordered chest x ray.
I am surprised why he has not ordered antihistamine and anti inflammatory drugs.
My suggestion is to avoid prednisone because if you have lung infection then this can flare up.
Better to start antihistamine and other anti inflammatory drugs.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

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