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How Can severe Cough Along With Headache Be Treated?
For a couple of weeks my 15 year old daughter has been coughing and has had a headache. She is a dancer and today had a very hard time breathing after completing each dance with her teammates at a competition. Once she relaxed, the breathing got better, but she is still very uncomfortable. Her back is sore and her chest, she has been sleeping a lot especially for the last few days. She has a bad sore throat and was just throwing up, possibly from the cough but has had no fever. I am thinking it might be pneumonia instead of just a chest cold, at what point should I take her to see a Dr. because is there really anything that can be done?
Mon, 15 May 2017
Dear Madam, based on the history that you have given, it looks like your daughter has upper respiratory infection including sinusitis and possibly a mild lower chest infection too.
You could try giving her
1) povidone-iodine 10% or hot salt water gargles (glass of warm to hot water with a teaspoon of salt) at least thrice a day, along with
2) steam inhalation (take half a bucket of hot steaming water, cover her head with a towel) and allow her to take steam inhalation.
3) I also suggest she takes rest for a few days
and drink hot water and eat hot food
and avoid consumption of cold foods, like ice cream.
If she feels better she should continue the same for 3 to 5 days till she completely feels normal.
In addition, you could start her on a cough expectorant with/without an antihistaminic for 5 days.
Despite all the medication if she shows no sign of improvement it is likely she would require consultation for following possibilities
1) Severe respiratory tract infection : she may require throat and chest examination and subsequent treatment like antibiotics, etc
2) Mild variant of asthama
I hope I could answer your question. Wishing your daughter and you good health, take care.
You could try giving her
1) povidone-iodine 10% or hot salt water gargles (glass of warm to hot water with a teaspoon of salt) at least thrice a day, along with
2) steam inhalation (take half a bucket of hot steaming water, cover her head with a towel) and allow her to take steam inhalation.
3) I also suggest she takes rest for a few days
and drink hot water and eat hot food
and avoid consumption of cold foods, like ice cream.
If she feels better she should continue the same for 3 to 5 days till she completely feels normal.
In addition, you could start her on a cough expectorant with/without an antihistaminic for 5 days.
Despite all the medication if she shows no sign of improvement it is likely she would require consultation for following possibilities
1) Severe respiratory tract infection : she may require throat and chest examination and subsequent treatment like antibiotics, etc
2) Mild variant of asthama
I hope I could answer your question. Wishing your daughter and you good health, take care.
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