Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Persistent And Prolongled Coughing?
Question: I have been coughing for over a month now. I went to an after hours clinic yesterday. X-ray is negative, nose, ear throat is clear, chest when examined with stethoscope sounds clear, no fever. I was given Proventil as needed and Zyrtec twice a day and chlorpheniramine. I am still coughing day and night. I forgot to ask for the diagnosis. The doctor said I am not contagious. What do you think I have?
Brief Answer:
please give more details, continue treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I went through your query and would like to make suggestions for you as follows:
1. I would like to know whether you had any infection at the beginning (before one month). If it is so, it is possible that you may have post-infective cough, which can last for 1-2 months even after infection is resolved.
2. I would like to know how exactly your complaints began. What treatments you received during one month. Whether you have recurrent cough/seasonal cough-colds, etc. Whether you have expectoration. Whether your cough worsens at particular time of the day. Whether you have any nose/sinus complaints.
3. If you are exposed/have been recently exposed to dusts, smokes or air pollution, it can cause irritation in your airways and can cause cough.
4. I would like to know whether you have any other medical conditions or whether you are on any other frequent/regular medications. Some medications (for example, some drugs used in treatment of hypertension) can cause/worsen cough.
As your X-rays and ear-nose-throat-chest examination are clear, I don't see any grave cause of cough. So in my opinion you should not worry at present.
Of course, please observe for the above mentioned causes whether they contribute to your cough as well as please observe your response to treatment also. Response to the treatment also will give a clue to what type of cough you may have.
Hope above information will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask at follow-up. It will be my humble pleasure to help you with best of my knowledge and experience.
Wish you the best of the health.
Thank you & Regards.
Dr. Parin N. Parmar
please give more details, continue treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I went through your query and would like to make suggestions for you as follows:
1. I would like to know whether you had any infection at the beginning (before one month). If it is so, it is possible that you may have post-infective cough, which can last for 1-2 months even after infection is resolved.
2. I would like to know how exactly your complaints began. What treatments you received during one month. Whether you have recurrent cough/seasonal cough-colds, etc. Whether you have expectoration. Whether your cough worsens at particular time of the day. Whether you have any nose/sinus complaints.
3. If you are exposed/have been recently exposed to dusts, smokes or air pollution, it can cause irritation in your airways and can cause cough.
4. I would like to know whether you have any other medical conditions or whether you are on any other frequent/regular medications. Some medications (for example, some drugs used in treatment of hypertension) can cause/worsen cough.
As your X-rays and ear-nose-throat-chest examination are clear, I don't see any grave cause of cough. So in my opinion you should not worry at present.
Of course, please observe for the above mentioned causes whether they contribute to your cough as well as please observe your response to treatment also. Response to the treatment also will give a clue to what type of cough you may have.
Hope above information will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask at follow-up. It will be my humble pleasure to help you with best of my knowledge and experience.
Wish you the best of the health.
Thank you & Regards.
Dr. Parin N. Parmar
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
