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Suggest Treatment For Severe Unproductive Cough
Question: Hello I have had a violent unproductive cough for the last 2 days with fever & the cough is so violent it's causing incontinence. My Dr prescribed cheratussin AC it's not giving any relief. I am a 49 year old fit & otherwise healthy female. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yikes, that sounds like a bad cough.
While codeine products like cheratussin ac can really decrease the cough reflex in a lot of people, it doesn't work on all.
You might ask your doctor for benzonatate, and other cough suppressant.
But I am concerned about a bad cough with a fever. While it can be a virus, such as influenza, it can also be pneumonia, and the cough isn't always productive at first. Have you had your lungs listened to or a chest X-ray?
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yikes, that sounds like a bad cough.
While codeine products like cheratussin ac can really decrease the cough reflex in a lot of people, it doesn't work on all.
You might ask your doctor for benzonatate, and other cough suppressant.
But I am concerned about a bad cough with a fever. While it can be a virus, such as influenza, it can also be pneumonia, and the cough isn't always productive at first. Have you had your lungs listened to or a chest X-ray?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No, i was trying to avoid going to an immediate car but its prob best
Brief Answer:
Yes - go in to be seen.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, when I hear the combination of fever plus persistent cough (productive or not), I get a chest X-ray. Best to go in to be seen. If it looks like it's mostly viral (after they've listened to your lungs and gotten an X-ray), then just rely on the benzonatate and push fluids. But if the X-ray isn't normal (i.e. pneumonia), an antibiotic is in order.
Yes - go in to be seen.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, when I hear the combination of fever plus persistent cough (productive or not), I get a chest X-ray. Best to go in to be seen. If it looks like it's mostly viral (after they've listened to your lungs and gotten an X-ray), then just rely on the benzonatate and push fluids. But if the X-ray isn't normal (i.e. pneumonia), an antibiotic is in order.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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