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What Causes Persistent Cough With Low Grade Fever?
Question: I have had a severe cough for about 10 days. I have a low grade fever,very low energy, and nausea. It's a wet cough. About 5 days ago my back (or what feels like it's in my back) started hurting,and it's now hurting very badly. On a scale of 1-10,it is between a 6 and an 8. It especially hurts when I cough,but hurts when I move much at all. Because I have been lying propped up in bed a lot the past 10 days,the only time my cough will stop is if I lie propped in bed,I'm thinking my back just hurts because I've been laying down so much. I sleep pretty good at night,especially if I don't move at all. I had stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer 10 years ago and have not been to the oncologist for 5 years...when my then husband cancelled my health insurance and of course nobody would pick me up. (I have no insurance now) My daughter thinks my cough is related to my cancer,that it has returned somewhere else in my body. I don't think that,but it does make me question. I looked up pnemonia,and I don't have many of the symptoms. I also checked on severe cough,and it didn't make me concerned because they said a cough can last up to 3 weeks. I'm afraid I'm just going to be told to go to the doctor.
Brief Answer:
Upper Respiratory infection, GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Thanks for using HCM.
The most common cause for cough with low grade fever is respiratory infection. Most often it is due to viral infection and will subside in a week or two. Sometimes it may be due to bacterial infection and may require a course of antibiotics.
To know whether it is due to pneumonia, you may have to get a chest xray done.
The back ache could be due to muscular pain due to repeated coughing.
Since you have nausea also, another cause for this cough could be gastroesophageal reflux disease.
I would advise you to take a chest xray if the cough remains persistent and for relief I would suggest home remedy of taking a teaspoon of honey and also OTC medication prilosec if the cough is due to GERD.
You can take tylenol for the back ache.
I hope that answers your query.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Regards,
Dr.Barani
Upper Respiratory infection, GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Thanks for using HCM.
The most common cause for cough with low grade fever is respiratory infection. Most often it is due to viral infection and will subside in a week or two. Sometimes it may be due to bacterial infection and may require a course of antibiotics.
To know whether it is due to pneumonia, you may have to get a chest xray done.
The back ache could be due to muscular pain due to repeated coughing.
Since you have nausea also, another cause for this cough could be gastroesophageal reflux disease.
I would advise you to take a chest xray if the cough remains persistent and for relief I would suggest home remedy of taking a teaspoon of honey and also OTC medication prilosec if the cough is due to GERD.
You can take tylenol for the back ache.
I hope that answers your query.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Regards,
Dr.Barani
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan
Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Specialist
Practicing since :1996
Answered : 417 Questions
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