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What Causes Persistent Cough Despite Taking Antibiotics?
Question: My husband is a not a smoker but he has had a cough for at least 6 weeks. Sometimes he coughs so much he can barely get his breathe. He is 65 yrs old. He went to an urgent care and they called it bronchitis, and gave him a Rx. 3 weeks later he still had a cough. A chest xray was done and the dr, said his chest was clear so he gave him a Rx for cough syrup with codeine. He still has the cough. What should we do next?
Brief Answer:
possible whooping cough or GERD
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that your husband is bother by a sever cough for the past 6 weeks. In my practice I have seen this type of cough after someone contracts whooping cough or pertussis. It causes and severe cough without pneumonia that lasts for weeks. The treatment is a long course of biaxin for 2-3 weeks. ZIihromax is not strong enough nor does it last long enough to treat pertussis. The pertussis vaccine wanes as we get older and the new tetanus vaccine actually has added pertussis to help increase immunity. the only way to test for pertussis is a nasal swab that your doctor needs to get from the health department
Th other option here is GERD or esophageal reflux disease. It will frequently manifest itself as a cough and not heart burn. I would recommend trying a course of prilosec OTC to see if that reduces his cough.
In summary
1. Pertusis
2. Treat with biaxin for 2-3 weeks
3. GERD
4. Treat with prilosec
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
possible whooping cough or GERD
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that your husband is bother by a sever cough for the past 6 weeks. In my practice I have seen this type of cough after someone contracts whooping cough or pertussis. It causes and severe cough without pneumonia that lasts for weeks. The treatment is a long course of biaxin for 2-3 weeks. ZIihromax is not strong enough nor does it last long enough to treat pertussis. The pertussis vaccine wanes as we get older and the new tetanus vaccine actually has added pertussis to help increase immunity. the only way to test for pertussis is a nasal swab that your doctor needs to get from the health department
Th other option here is GERD or esophageal reflux disease. It will frequently manifest itself as a cough and not heart burn. I would recommend trying a course of prilosec OTC to see if that reduces his cough.
In summary
1. Pertusis
2. Treat with biaxin for 2-3 weeks
3. GERD
4. Treat with prilosec
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Test for pertussis
Detailed Answer:
The test for pertussis is a nasal swab. This would need to be done by his medical provider.
The grandchildren should be okay as long as they all have their shots up to date. I would recommend not being around any newborns.
Test for pertussis
Detailed Answer:
The test for pertussis is a nasal swab. This would need to be done by his medical provider.
The grandchildren should be okay as long as they all have their shots up to date. I would recommend not being around any newborns.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is there a test that he can take, like a swab test for a diagnosis? Has he been contagious all this time? My concern is that we had 6 of the 10 grandkids here this weekend.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP !! Will get it checked out again ASAP
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP !! Will get it checked out again ASAP
Brief Answer:
Your welcome
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome and best wishes
Your welcome
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome and best wishes
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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