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What Causes Tickling Sensation In Upper Chest With Mild Cough?

Posted on Mon, 20 Jun 2016

Question: Tickling sensation in upper chest with a VERY mild cough. Cough is brought on by the tickling. Does NOT hurt to cough. Tickling has been active for the past 48 hrs. Also, previously had sharp pains in left side of chest at top of lung. I have yet to seek any treatment. Sharp pains have gone away but randomly return. I am 28 years old, female. I had acute asthma as a child but it was only heat and exercised induced. I spent the weekend in Palm XXXXXXX CA (the desert) and that is when the tickling began. Weather was dry and 80-90 degrees. Do I need to see a doctor?

Thanks!

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely due to allergy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM

I have gone through your query. Your problem can be most likely due to allergy. Taking antihistamines like Benadryl or cetirizine will be helpful. But if there is still irritation in chest better to get an auscultation by your physician to find the status of your lung. Taking steam inhalation and taking chewable vitamin C is good also.

Do you have any fever?
Is the cough dry or with sputum?
Is there any sneezing or throat irritation?

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (19 hours later)

I do not have a fever.
Cough is dry - no flem.
Not coughing much - just a little.
No sneezing. No throat irritation.

I wasn't expecting an allergy to be the answer. I have not really introduced anything new in my diet or regimen. Could it be anything else? Could this be related to the chest pains I was experiencing recently? It is day 3 and I still have this tickling/tingling feeling in my chest.

Thanks!

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Other possibility is pleural irritation or pleuritis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM

I have gone through your query. Possibility of allergy what I meant is from inhalation of some allergens from the desert where you been.
Other possibility is pleuritis. This can cause stabbing pain as well as cough. Auscultation of Lungs by physician and X ray chest will be needed to rule out this. Blood routine also should be done to get signs. In case of allergy there will be high eosinophils. In case of any inflammatory conditions causing pleuritis ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) in blood routine will be raised also. A short course of steroids and cough suppressors will be helpful in that case also.
A consultation with your Physician is well appreciated.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (2 days later)

Is any of the above serious? How soon do I need to see a doctor?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No these are not serious conditions.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

These are not serious conditions. But better to have a consultation with physician as soon as possible if it doesn't improve by over the counter anti histamines and cough suppressants.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar