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How Can severe Persistent Cough Be Treated?
I have been coughing for about 6 weeks now. It is a violent cough that leaves me gagging. It comes on without warning and last for 10-15 mins. at a time. It wakes me out of a sound sleep and I can't get back to sleep. I get a weird feeling in my throat before it starts that is like I have hair in my throat. I also sound weezy when I breathe. I have had two rounds of antibiotics and it hasn't touched it. What am I dealing with?
Mon, 20 Mar 2017
Hello.
Thanks for trusting Healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concerns.
As per your description you have chronic cough for more than six weeks,its quite long and have to be evaluated thoroughly.
I suggest you to consult a general physician and get the following things done:-
1. Get a chest X-ray done to rule out lung conditions which can cause cough.
2.Do basic blood investigatons like CBC(Complete blood count), check your eosinophil count.
3.Do a sputum examination to rule out tuberculosis which is quit common in Asian and African countries.
4.Antibiotic therapy is mandatory,since you already had two rounds of antibiotics try a different one preferably levofloxacin which is quite effective in respiratory conditions.
5.You might require nebulization with bronchodialator drugs to control the symptoms.
6.Avoid smoke and dust which may predispose you to allergic cough.
7.Antihistamines like levocetrezine or loratidine can provide symptomatic relief especially in allergic cough.
8.Quit smoking if you have that habit.
Additional investigations like CT or bronchoscopy may be needed to find out the cause depending on the initial evaluation as advised by your physician. If no definitive cause has been found out it can be labelled as hyper active airway in which the cough is due to increased sensitivity to dust and pollen.
Hope I have answered your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr.Shinas Hussain
Thanks for trusting Healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concerns.
As per your description you have chronic cough for more than six weeks,its quite long and have to be evaluated thoroughly.
I suggest you to consult a general physician and get the following things done:-
1. Get a chest X-ray done to rule out lung conditions which can cause cough.
2.Do basic blood investigatons like CBC(Complete blood count), check your eosinophil count.
3.Do a sputum examination to rule out tuberculosis which is quit common in Asian and African countries.
4.Antibiotic therapy is mandatory,since you already had two rounds of antibiotics try a different one preferably levofloxacin which is quite effective in respiratory conditions.
5.You might require nebulization with bronchodialator drugs to control the symptoms.
6.Avoid smoke and dust which may predispose you to allergic cough.
7.Antihistamines like levocetrezine or loratidine can provide symptomatic relief especially in allergic cough.
8.Quit smoking if you have that habit.
Additional investigations like CT or bronchoscopy may be needed to find out the cause depending on the initial evaluation as advised by your physician. If no definitive cause has been found out it can be labelled as hyper active airway in which the cough is due to increased sensitivity to dust and pollen.
Hope I have answered your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr.Shinas Hussain
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