Brief Answer:
To try home remedies. If not better, see your doctor

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.

Based on your symptoms I would like to rule out Laryngitis and lung infection.

Would you clarify a few things for me, please?
*do you have a fever? How high?
*does it hurt when you breathe or only when you cough?
*where exactly does it hurt on your chest?
*any breathing difficulty?
*is the phlegm easy to expect rate or do you have to cough hard to bring it out?
*are you prone to allergies?
*any difficulty in sleeping?
*does your throat hurt?
*do you have any other medical issues or take any medications?

I recommend :
- voice rest
-Gargle with warm water and a pinch of salt thrice a day. If this worsens the cough, use only warm water
-drink warm fluids and avoid anything cold and fizzy
-take a vitamin C supplement 500mg twice a day(morning and afternoon, not at night) for 10 days.
-steam inhalation with Vicks vapor rub or tincture benzoyl (a few drops) thrice a day. This helps to loosen secretions.
-apply Vicks on your chest, neck and back (between your shoulders) at night and cover yourself up well. Test allergy for Vicks on a small area on the inner part of your forearm for 4hrs.
-covering your ears and wearing a face mask (disposable) at night helps to keep the air you breathe warm and moist. Skip this if you feel uncomfortable.
-if dissolvable aspirin is available, Gargle twice a day with this and spit out. Don't swallow. Helps reduce pain and inflammation

If these measures don't help in 7 days, or your symptoms worsen or develop a fever, I suggest :
-a physician consult
-chest x-ray
-blood tests (complete blood count)
-sputum (phlegm) test and culture.

Based on this appropriate treatment will be initiated.

Hope this helps and you feel better.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health

Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad

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