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Suggest Treatment For Acute Bacterial Infection In Throat
Question: Hi Dr,
I wonder if you can help me, I have had a cold for a week and a half now, it started with sneezing and congestion at night which was a better in the day but after about 3-4 days it turned into a full cold. I have tried some cold remedies but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am still very congested, I have a runny nose, at times a blocked nose, I have a tickly cough, I have been coughing up green mucas, at times my voice sounds very husky and I find it hard to talk (especially in the mornings and at night) and at times my throat (tonsils?) hurt when I cough. I am worse just after I wake up and going into the evening but I still feel not right during the day. I am one not to go to go to the doctors for everything and I know doctors do not give antibiotics for viral infections so I have been trying not to go especially as I am hoping to this is a bad cold that will heal on its own but is it worth going to my GP if this still lingers on?
I wonder if you can help me, I have had a cold for a week and a half now, it started with sneezing and congestion at night which was a better in the day but after about 3-4 days it turned into a full cold. I have tried some cold remedies but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am still very congested, I have a runny nose, at times a blocked nose, I have a tickly cough, I have been coughing up green mucas, at times my voice sounds very husky and I find it hard to talk (especially in the mornings and at night) and at times my throat (tonsils?) hurt when I cough. I am worse just after I wake up and going into the evening but I still feel not right during the day. I am one not to go to go to the doctors for everything and I know doctors do not give antibiotics for viral infections so I have been trying not to go especially as I am hoping to this is a bad cold that will heal on its own but is it worth going to my GP if this still lingers on?
Brief Answer:
Consult your GP at the earliest...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query; I will try my best to help you out with this problem.
The elaborate history of yours describes, that you are having an acute bacterial infection (evidenced by the greenish coloured sputum). Bacterial inefction requires to be treated with antibiotics.
The throat irritation and the cough is because of the postnasal discharge. You will require antibiotics, mucolytics and some home remedies. Consider seeing your GP at the earliest.
Home remedies include:
1. Drinking plenty of warm water.
2. Doing steam inhalation 3-4 times a day for 2 min.
3. Avoid chilled food and beverages, smoking (if any) and coffee.
4. Use over-the-counter saline nasal spray to relieve the nasal congestion and the block
Hope this answer will be helpful to you: I will be glad to answer the follow-up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Consult your GP at the earliest...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query; I will try my best to help you out with this problem.
The elaborate history of yours describes, that you are having an acute bacterial infection (evidenced by the greenish coloured sputum). Bacterial inefction requires to be treated with antibiotics.
The throat irritation and the cough is because of the postnasal discharge. You will require antibiotics, mucolytics and some home remedies. Consider seeing your GP at the earliest.
Home remedies include:
1. Drinking plenty of warm water.
2. Doing steam inhalation 3-4 times a day for 2 min.
3. Avoid chilled food and beverages, smoking (if any) and coffee.
4. Use over-the-counter saline nasal spray to relieve the nasal congestion and the block
Hope this answer will be helpful to you: I will be glad to answer the follow-up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi Dr,
Thank you very much for your reply just a quick query my husband had a bit of a funny stomach on Sunday night, he had a bout of diarrhoea, loss of appetite his stomach then sounded like it was bubbling. He was sick 4 times on Monday morning and then slept through most of Monday on and off whilst also complaining of a headache, fuzzy head feeling and couldn't eat anything. He tried to go into work today but had to go home he was so lethargic. He complained of headache/neck ache and slept on and off for for the rest of the day had something to eat (soup and garlic bread) and went back to bed early with a headache tonight.
My young daughter aged 1 also had 2 bouts of diarrhoea firstly on Saturday Morning (with loss of appetite on Friday) seemed fine on Sunday but had another bout of diarrhoea on Monday afternoon.
Could this be anything related to what I have? is this the typical D &V Virus?
Thank you very much for your reply just a quick query my husband had a bit of a funny stomach on Sunday night, he had a bout of diarrhoea, loss of appetite his stomach then sounded like it was bubbling. He was sick 4 times on Monday morning and then slept through most of Monday on and off whilst also complaining of a headache, fuzzy head feeling and couldn't eat anything. He tried to go into work today but had to go home he was so lethargic. He complained of headache/neck ache and slept on and off for for the rest of the day had something to eat (soup and garlic bread) and went back to bed early with a headache tonight.
My young daughter aged 1 also had 2 bouts of diarrhoea firstly on Saturday Morning (with loss of appetite on Friday) seemed fine on Sunday but had another bout of diarrhoea on Monday afternoon.
Could this be anything related to what I have? is this the typical D &V Virus?
Brief Answer:
Viral diarrhoea
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing back
The symptoms of both your daughter and the father are almost similar, that implies, it could be a viral diarrhoea.
Do not worry! With simple household remedies they will become alright. Encourage both of them to drink plenty of liquids (butter milk, fresh fruit juices, soup, tender coconut water, etc.). Also, you can give them oral rehydration salts which are available over the counter. Do not allow them to get dehydrated. Dehydration will cause loss of salts and thus weakness. If the symptoms worsen, consult your doctor.
Hope this information was helpful to you.
I wish them good health.
Regards
Dr. XXXXXXX Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Viral diarrhoea
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing back
The symptoms of both your daughter and the father are almost similar, that implies, it could be a viral diarrhoea.
Do not worry! With simple household remedies they will become alright. Encourage both of them to drink plenty of liquids (butter milk, fresh fruit juices, soup, tender coconut water, etc.). Also, you can give them oral rehydration salts which are available over the counter. Do not allow them to get dehydrated. Dehydration will cause loss of salts and thus weakness. If the symptoms worsen, consult your doctor.
Hope this information was helpful to you.
I wish them good health.
Regards
Dr. XXXXXXX Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty
Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist
Practicing since :2001
Answered : 2540 Questions
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