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Suggest Treatment For Cough For Over A Month Along With Green Sputum Leading To Breathing Difficulty

Posted on Thu, 11 Feb 2021

Question: She has cough from past 1 month. When she wake up, she got sputum in her mouth.
Also she feels breathing problems because of this. Please suggest.

Also sometimes sputum color changes to green.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of either bronchitis or lung infection is more likely.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

She is having chronic cough (cough for more than 2 weeks) with expectoration.
She is also having breathing difficulty.
All these symptoms are more suggestive of lung infection or bronchitis (inflammation of airways).
So better to take her to pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system, chest x ray and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
Chest x ray is needed to rule out lung infection.
PFT is must for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
She may need antibiotic, inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) based on the reports.
Please let me know
1. Is she a smoker?
2. Has she undergone chest x ray and PFT recently?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing her good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (26 minutes later)

Hi Sir,

Thank you for the detailed answer. As per suggestions i will be taking her to a pulmonologist today.

1. Is she a smoker? -- No She does not smoke.
2. Has she undergone chest x ray and PFT recently? -- Yes, 1 year ago.

She had cough problem 1 year ago and at that time she gone through chest x-ray and Sputum culture Test. At that time reports were fine.

She has not undergone PFT till now.

Thanks
XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Get done repeat chest x ray and PFT.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

In my opinion, you should definitely get done fresh chest x ray and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
If chest x ray is normal then CT scan of thorax is also advisable because of symptom duration (1 year).
Is she having any kind of allergy?
Is she having weight loss, loss of appetite?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing her good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Hi Sir,

Is she having any kind of allergy? -- No, She does not have any kind of allergy.
Is she having weight loss, loss of appetite? -- She lost 1 kg in past 1 year and appetite slightly decreased.

Thanks
XXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of bronchitis is more likely.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

By far, possibility of either bronchitis or bronchiectesis (BRE) is more likely.
So get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test), chest x ray and CT thorax.
Is she having any previous history of pneumonia or tuberculosis?
Is she working? If yes then is she having any occupational dust, fumes, chemicals exposure?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing her good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Hi Sir,

Is she having any previous history of pneumonia or tuberculosis? - No
Is she working? If yes then is she having any occupational dust, fumes, chemicals exposure? -- No, she is studying.

Thanks
XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Is she taking any treatment at present?

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

You have mentioned cough syrup in medications tried.
May I know the name of cough syrup she took?
Is she taking any other treatment like antibiotic, inhalers, mucolytic etc?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing her good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

Hi Sir,

May I know the name of cough syrup she took? - Asthalin(Salbutamol sulphate syrup)
Is she taking any other treatment like antibiotic, inhalers, mucolytic etc? - No

Thanks
XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
She should start bronchorex syrup, NAC and inhalers.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

In my opinion, she should try bronchorex syrup, NAC (N acetyl cystine) and inhalers.
You said earlier that you will visit pulmonologist today.
Are you taking her to pulmonologist today?
If yes then get done chest x ray and PFT.
What about her blood reports?
Has she undergone any blood reports recently?
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing her good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 minutes later)

Hi Sir,

Are you taking her to pulmonologist today? - Yes, we will be visiting pulmonologist today.
Has she undergone any blood reports recently? - No She did not undergone any blood test recently.

Thanks
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done blood reports as well.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

It's great that you are taking her to pulmonologist today only.
Do discuss about chest x ray, PFT and CT scan.
Also discuss about possibility of bronchitis and bronchiectesis.
Also ask about need of blood reports to rule out anemia, infection etc.
And yes, please let me know what are the pulmonologist 's suggestions.
I would love to hear back from you.
I will wait for your reply.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana