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Suggest Treatment For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
Question: I am a 48 year old male , no history of smoking and I do not drink alcohol excessively. I have developed the following symptoms over the last few months: Severe fatigue, extreme sensitivity to cold ( walking into air conditioned super markets and department stores ), dry mouth, irregular cold sweats that come and go, and excess saliva that seems to be aspirating into my upper stomach ( or lungs ) causing me to cough to clear out my ( upper stomach or lungs ) and spit our clear sputum. My upper abdomen appears to be swollen and hard. I pound a bit on my upper abdomen right under my chest when I coup and this seems to allow me to cough a bit better and clear out excessive sputum which is in my ( upper stomach / lungs ? ). I should note that a few months ago I developed acute bronchitis and I was treated by the ER with prednosilone and antibiotics and it is gone. I have been on the internet trying to narrow down the symptoms and self diagnose and I have come up with 3 possibilities or combination of all of the above. 1-Hypothyroidism ( fatigue and sensitivity to Cold ), 2-Gerd ( aspiration of stomach fluid / acids ) in the lungs, 3-Allergies to Mold / Allergens ( aspiration of sinus fluid XXXXXXX , in the lungs / acute bronchitis symptoms ). I don't know what to think. When I went to the ER for acute bronchitis months ago, all my testing came back negative and my blood work was good and a chest X ray came back clear ( twice ). I eat right, get plenty of rest, sleep and fluids and work out a few times a week. Please help me diagnose this condition.
Brief Answer:
As discussed in details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
I have read and re-read your history well and understood your concerns.
As per the symptoms you have mentioned, this looks to be due to upper respiratory inflammation and may be a sub-clinical infection that has continued on and enhanced by the factors as you suggested like molds, mildew and allergens of any sort.
There is a Medical Dictum.
Anything under the sun including the sun can cause allergy.
You have got excessive sputum production- is in fact must be the secretions of the throat as you have said that you have dry throat.
This sputum comes out of the throat and the tracheo-bronchial tree which you can clear well on coughing.
This is not coming from the stomach as your history does not support this and hence this does not look like GERD.
Hypothyroidism is least common in males of your age group and can be said to have only after the blood tests of Free T3, Free T4 and TSH. There are other symptoms of weight gain, increased blood pressure, feeling loss of interest in day-to-day life events and activities, weight gains, moon face, edema of the lower limbs and so on.
Hence I would advise you the following:
Get the sputum tested for bacteria and culture sensitivity.
Try to find the other factors too which instigate or enhance your symptoms. This needs keen observation by you, your family members and friends and you should avoid these factors altogether.
Fatigue and excessive sensitivity to cold can be due to the allergy and its sequel.
Take multivitamins and therapeutic dosages of Vitamin A and D after the blood tests as these two vitamins are the most important to restore the integrity of mucosa and skin surfaces.
If the sputum tests show some particular problem this can be treated effectively and selectively too get a good relief.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Please give additional information if you have anything else to share on.
As discussed in details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
I have read and re-read your history well and understood your concerns.
As per the symptoms you have mentioned, this looks to be due to upper respiratory inflammation and may be a sub-clinical infection that has continued on and enhanced by the factors as you suggested like molds, mildew and allergens of any sort.
There is a Medical Dictum.
Anything under the sun including the sun can cause allergy.
You have got excessive sputum production- is in fact must be the secretions of the throat as you have said that you have dry throat.
This sputum comes out of the throat and the tracheo-bronchial tree which you can clear well on coughing.
This is not coming from the stomach as your history does not support this and hence this does not look like GERD.
Hypothyroidism is least common in males of your age group and can be said to have only after the blood tests of Free T3, Free T4 and TSH. There are other symptoms of weight gain, increased blood pressure, feeling loss of interest in day-to-day life events and activities, weight gains, moon face, edema of the lower limbs and so on.
Hence I would advise you the following:
Get the sputum tested for bacteria and culture sensitivity.
Try to find the other factors too which instigate or enhance your symptoms. This needs keen observation by you, your family members and friends and you should avoid these factors altogether.
Fatigue and excessive sensitivity to cold can be due to the allergy and its sequel.
Take multivitamins and therapeutic dosages of Vitamin A and D after the blood tests as these two vitamins are the most important to restore the integrity of mucosa and skin surfaces.
If the sputum tests show some particular problem this can be treated effectively and selectively too get a good relief.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Please give additional information if you have anything else to share on.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you for your response Doctor. I concur with you and believe that you are spot on...this is an allergy induced respiratory infection. I went to my primary physician at a local clinic today and they did blood work, urinalysis, cardiographs, and an ultrasound of my thyroid gland in my neck, heart, stomach, and other organs. They also performed a stomach X-ray. They were going to perform a throat culture but it was too late. I'm going to get the throat culture done tomorrow. If it turns out I have a respiratory infection as a result of the throat culture / sputum test do you recommend I go on another round of antibiotics ? What do you recommend ? Thank you XXXX
Brief Answer:
Yes, indeed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation.
Certainly yes, another round of antibiotic for about 2 weeks along with an anti-inflammatory medicines and decongestants with anti-allergic properties alone can give you the relief and possible cure.
Multivitamins do help a lot as they act as anti-oxidants.
Prevention is better than cure: try to identify the factors that instigate or enhance the symptoms and avoid them altogether. These can be as common as the scents and deodorants people wear to anything around you.
Yes, indeed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation.
Certainly yes, another round of antibiotic for about 2 weeks along with an anti-inflammatory medicines and decongestants with anti-allergic properties alone can give you the relief and possible cure.
Multivitamins do help a lot as they act as anti-oxidants.
Prevention is better than cure: try to identify the factors that instigate or enhance the symptoms and avoid them altogether. These can be as common as the scents and deodorants people wear to anything around you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Priyanka G Raj
Thank you for your advice Doctor. XXXX
Brief Answer:
You are most welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You may please rate this answer before closure of the discussion and can certainly contact me on the bellow link in future, whenever you may need me.
http://bit.ly/askdrtchandrakant
You are most welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You may please rate this answer before closure of the discussion and can certainly contact me on the bellow link in future, whenever you may need me.
http://bit.ly/askdrtchandrakant
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Priyanka G Raj
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