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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Body Chills And Cough When Suffering From Respiratory Tract Infection?

I have a bad respiratory cold (day 4) but my breathing is worse than I can remember even when I had bronchitis when I was a child. I m 57 over weight by 50 lbs, have diabetes, high blood pressure. I am experiencing chills and feel warm to the touch 37.6c (not bad). I have a continual dry cough and my chest and throat hurts. My breathing is labored and feel slightly dizzy but the musinex and Benadryl may be elevating my pressure. I also have diarrhea but that isn t that abnormal for me. I went to a clinic yesterday, the NP said my lungs sounded good. This may be a bad cold but it just feels different. What do you think?
Mon, 4 Mar 2024
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,

Since you are having cold for 4 days with dry cough, chills, and throat pain without high grade fever, it could probably be a viral infection with acute bronchitis. But the cases of COVID and influenza are on the rise. Being a diabetic, the chances of getting an infection are more. Hence, I would suggest you to consult an Emergency Medicine Physician at the EARLIEST and get your vitals(heart rate , BP, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) checked, since you have got labored breathing, and consider throat swab for influenza, SARS, COVID viruses along with complete blood counts to rule out leukocytosis (suggestive of bacterial infection).

There are very rare chances for blood pressure elevation with the use of Mucinex or Benadryl but you may feel dizzy with Benadryl due to sedation. Benadryl may increase your BP when used along with other drugs like ibuprofen. Could you give more clarity about the frequency of passing stools and any change in the consistency of stools? Certain viral infection (eg: COVID) can be associated with diarrhea.

The Emergency Medicine Specialist can advise expert management following a detailed clinical examination, vitals check up along with consideration of throat swabs and blood works. He may also consider a chest x-ray if he finds anything abnormal on auscultation of the lungs to rule out pneumonia. In your case, monitoring oxygen saturation is very important.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr Devi Venugopal Rita, MD General Medicine
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What Causes Body Chills And Cough When Suffering From Respiratory Tract Infection?

Hi, Since you are having cold for 4 days with dry cough, chills, and throat pain without high grade fever, it could probably be a viral infection with acute bronchitis. But the cases of COVID and influenza are on the rise. Being a diabetic, the chances of getting an infection are more. Hence, I would suggest you to consult an Emergency Medicine Physician at the EARLIEST and get your vitals(heart rate , BP, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) checked, since you have got labored breathing, and consider throat swab for influenza, SARS, COVID viruses along with complete blood counts to rule out leukocytosis (suggestive of bacterial infection). There are very rare chances for blood pressure elevation with the use of Mucinex or Benadryl but you may feel dizzy with Benadryl due to sedation. Benadryl may increase your BP when used along with other drugs like ibuprofen. Could you give more clarity about the frequency of passing stools and any change in the consistency of stools? Certain viral infection (eg: COVID) can be associated with diarrhea. The Emergency Medicine Specialist can advise expert management following a detailed clinical examination, vitals check up along with consideration of throat swabs and blood works. He may also consider a chest x-ray if he finds anything abnormal on auscultation of the lungs to rule out pneumonia. In your case, monitoring oxygen saturation is very important. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr Devi Venugopal Rita, MD General Medicine