I have had a dry, hacking cough for a week. It produced rather violent coughing from the diaphram and also from the throat which became sore with an injured feeling and swollen glands. I lost my voice for about a day or so, and then recovered it. My right eye produced goop and was watery and pink. It all seemed to be a virus, but is not slowing down. After about 3-4 days of the pinkeye it began to show signs of transferring to the left eye despite care to not transfer it. This was mild and appeared to be following the course of a virus as described online. Sinuses have remained clear & breathing is easy, so it doesn t have the characteristics of a cold. I have taken Robitussin Max which did help. I thought I was getting better, but after stopping this medication the cough remains, and I occasionally do cough up phlem from deep in the lungs/diaphram/stomach. The globs are a pearlish/grayish color and rather small. However, each time this occurs it seems to re-injur the throat and causes pain in the swollen glands. The pinkeye has subsided. I m still wondering if this is all viral or bacterial and if I should be going for an antibiotic. My daughter-in-law has been battling this nearly same problem for over a month. She did not have the pinkeye, but did get an ear infection out of it. No strep infection was found, but she finally went on an antibiotic. However, she continues to feel those painful golf balls in her throat just like me. Her mother was just released from the hospital with pneumonia and is on oxygen. Her 5 year old son is having increased breathing problems at night. Do we all have some super-bug ?