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What Causes Slight Hoarseness, Occasional Cough, Mild Fever And Fatigue?
Question: For about 12 days I've had slight hoarseness, needing to clear throat (productively), occasional slight cough, low temps (around 97, only in last two days getting into 98 degree range, not yet up to 98.6), and mild fatigue, esp around midday into the afternoon. I'm 80, my constitution is that of a man of 70, generally in good health.
Brief Answer:
Suggested possible causes or treatments.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your question to HCM,
I read carefully your query.
A hoarsened voice, is a sign that the vocal cords have been irritated.
In general, if the change in voice has come from a common cold virus, it will last around 1 week.
The fact that yours has been lasting little bit longer, makes us thing of other causes of vocal cords irritation.
-- Post nazal drip: from your description looks like that. Try drinking plenty of water, take and mucolitic syrup like acetylcisteine or others available. It may last up to 1 month, but when post nazal drip will heal, the voice will return to normal most probably.
-- Gastritis: the acid from the stomach sometimes is absorbed in the lungs causing sore throat, cough, and change in the voice.If you have symptoms of stomach ache like burning sensation, acid fluid in the mouth from time to time, or you are aware of having stomach problem then it might be the cause. Treating it, returns voice into normal. I give my patients a course of Omeprazole 20mg or lansoprazole 28mg, once/day for 2 weeks, before breakfast.
If again the voice is not getting better or is getting worse, you shoul reconsider doing a visit to your local doctor, consider treating the possible causes that I mentioned above, or do further examinations accordingly (for example an exam to see the vocal cords).
Let me know if you need any more clarification. Hope this have been of any help.
Take care,
Dr. Papaqako.
Suggested possible causes or treatments.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting your question to HCM,
I read carefully your query.
A hoarsened voice, is a sign that the vocal cords have been irritated.
In general, if the change in voice has come from a common cold virus, it will last around 1 week.
The fact that yours has been lasting little bit longer, makes us thing of other causes of vocal cords irritation.
-- Post nazal drip: from your description looks like that. Try drinking plenty of water, take and mucolitic syrup like acetylcisteine or others available. It may last up to 1 month, but when post nazal drip will heal, the voice will return to normal most probably.
-- Gastritis: the acid from the stomach sometimes is absorbed in the lungs causing sore throat, cough, and change in the voice.If you have symptoms of stomach ache like burning sensation, acid fluid in the mouth from time to time, or you are aware of having stomach problem then it might be the cause. Treating it, returns voice into normal. I give my patients a course of Omeprazole 20mg or lansoprazole 28mg, once/day for 2 weeks, before breakfast.
If again the voice is not getting better or is getting worse, you shoul reconsider doing a visit to your local doctor, consider treating the possible causes that I mentioned above, or do further examinations accordingly (for example an exam to see the vocal cords).
Let me know if you need any more clarification. Hope this have been of any help.
Take care,
Dr. Papaqako.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks, Dr. Papaquako:
Post-nasal drip seems possible, the gastric possibility has no other symptoms, thanks. But I want to ask again about two more symptoms I mentioned: 1. Could there be a connection between the persistent but small amount of mucous at the top of the windpipe and the lower-than-usual body temperatures I reported (97.2-97.7 for many days, only now coming into the low 98's)? And 2. Could there be a connection between that mucous and the repeated but also slight fatugue I've reported experiencing most days, mostly in the afternoon? (By the way, before this started I was with [but never close to] a child with strep throat, but I figure if this was strep, I'd be a LOT sicker and with a high temperature.) Thanks
Post-nasal drip seems possible, the gastric possibility has no other symptoms, thanks. But I want to ask again about two more symptoms I mentioned: 1. Could there be a connection between the persistent but small amount of mucous at the top of the windpipe and the lower-than-usual body temperatures I reported (97.2-97.7 for many days, only now coming into the low 98's)? And 2. Could there be a connection between that mucous and the repeated but also slight fatugue I've reported experiencing most days, mostly in the afternoon? (By the way, before this started I was with [but never close to] a child with strep throat, but I figure if this was strep, I'd be a LOT sicker and with a high temperature.) Thanks
Brief Answer:
Mucus is a symptom of the post nazal drip
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for explaining your concerns. I am more then happy to answer.
--The small amount of mucus in the throat, is part of the post-nazal drip. The secretions from the back of the nose, fall in the throat and produce the cough, and the needs to clear the throat.
--The fever you have had falls into the normal limit. It is not considered low temperature, and you don't have to worry about it.
--The mucus may be connected with the fatigue, because if you have continuous secretions, means you are losing fluids, so dehydration may happen and cause fatigue. Try drinking plenty of water in the days to come, and that may be helpful.
--Yes, it is not strep throat, because in that case the fever would be high, you would see pus in the tonsillary glands, would have tenderness in the neck lymphonodes, and would have been going worse (since it is a bacterial infection and needs antibiotic).
Your general condition is very important. If you notice you are getting worse or not better, consider a general check-up to your family physician.
Hope I have addressed all your questions. But if you have any more, please feel free to ask.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako.
Mucus is a symptom of the post nazal drip
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for explaining your concerns. I am more then happy to answer.
--The small amount of mucus in the throat, is part of the post-nazal drip. The secretions from the back of the nose, fall in the throat and produce the cough, and the needs to clear the throat.
--The fever you have had falls into the normal limit. It is not considered low temperature, and you don't have to worry about it.
--The mucus may be connected with the fatigue, because if you have continuous secretions, means you are losing fluids, so dehydration may happen and cause fatigue. Try drinking plenty of water in the days to come, and that may be helpful.
--Yes, it is not strep throat, because in that case the fever would be high, you would see pus in the tonsillary glands, would have tenderness in the neck lymphonodes, and would have been going worse (since it is a bacterial infection and needs antibiotic).
Your general condition is very important. If you notice you are getting worse or not better, consider a general check-up to your family physician.
Hope I have addressed all your questions. But if you have any more, please feel free to ask.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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