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Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Symptoms Of Bronchitis And Cough

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul 2015

Question: Hi---on 9/28/15 I was diagnosed with bronchitis after a chest xray. It cleared up pretty quickly. The same symptoms returned in early March, and I didn't even go into the doctor, I just called in. It took about 2 months to clear this time, and only went away after steroids. About one week later, I developed a bad cold (this was in early May). It is now the end of XXXXXXX and I am still coughing. It seems to be improving and it does not keep me up at night, but it is still tickling my chest ALL the time. I went to med express a week ago. They didn't want to give me another xray since I had no fever and a clear xray in September, but they did hear some "rattling" in my lungs and gave me a zpack and steroids. I've finished the treatment, and there is still residual cough. It is driving me crazy. I have severe health anxiety and can't stop worrying that I have lung cancer. Any advice?

ps I'm am a non smoker.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of post infectious bronchitis is more. So better to get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) for the diagnosis of bronchitis. It will also tell you about severity of the disease. And treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only.
You may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid.
Antihistamine drug is also effective.
If PFT is normal than no need to worry.
Avoid stress and tension. Be relax and calm.
Don't worry, you will be alright.
And forget about lung cancer. You are not having cancer.
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