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Suggest Treatment For Cold And Sinus Congestion

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Posted on Thu, 2 Mar 2017
Question: I'm working in Benin, and the first 4 of us on the ground had a cold+sinus congestion for about 4-5 days followed by 2-3 days of being fine, in turn followed by continuous hacking/coughing (with lesser congestion not causing as much pain), with some occasional yellow phlegm (note, only a few times per day out of all the constant coughing). The last 4 days or so my coughing has become much less frequent, approximately 2-4 times an hour, sometimes only once an hour. However I am still bringing up yellow phlegm. This morning I had heavy yellow phlegm when I blew out of my left nostril and I coughed up some yellow phlegm traced with blood. I am on day 6 of 7 taking ciproflaxin. As far as I can tell I am not wheezing/trouble breathing nor do I have any fatigue, confusion, nor have I had a fever this entire time. If it was not for the yellow phlegm / blood in phlegm I would have thought I am almost better to be honest. However the blood streaked yellow phlegm has me pretty concerned at this point. My current armpit temperature is 35.5 degrees Centigrade. I had gone to a local doctor about 8 days ago when the coughing was worse and he could not detect anything in my lungs at that time from listening to me. He prescribed Binozyt 500mg 3 tablets, but I'm unsure if I may be allergic as I have never taken it before and since there is no epinepherin where I am at, I wanted to wait until I got back to the capital to try it in case I have a reaction.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Continue ciprofloxacin for 3 more days.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,

Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.

Yes you seem to be having a respiratory tract infection and you seem to be symptomatically better. The colour of snot and phlegm is yellow but it is not purulent. The blood in it could be due to forceful coughing and blowing your nose or even as part of infection. I suggest you continue with ciprofloxacin for 3 more days along with steam inhalation. You should be fine soon. If you continue to be ill, you may have to get certain basic investigations like a chest x-ray and CBC and consult your PCP for a course of another antibiotics.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shashi Dangwal (16 minutes later)
Thank you Dr. Dangwal, to be honest this morning, after blowing my nose, and for the first time since this all started, having yellow come out of the nose; the following cough is the only time I ever had blood streaked phlegm. My subsequent coughs today were clear or slightly yellow.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It could be old stagnant secretions.

Detailed Answer:
Yes,that's exactly what I said that you are recovering and this one odd yellow blood stained snot and phlegm may be due to forceful coughing and blowing your nose or it could be stagnant secretions which may have come out now as you recover. I'm sure you will be fine soon.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shashi Dangwal

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :1979

Answered : 1157 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Cold And Sinus Congestion

Brief Answer: Continue ciprofloxacin for 3 more days. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXX, Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic. Yes you seem to be having a respiratory tract infection and you seem to be symptomatically better. The colour of snot and phlegm is yellow but it is not purulent. The blood in it could be due to forceful coughing and blowing your nose or even as part of infection. I suggest you continue with ciprofloxacin for 3 more days along with steam inhalation. You should be fine soon. If you continue to be ill, you may have to get certain basic investigations like a chest x-ray and CBC and consult your PCP for a course of another antibiotics. Take care.