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Suggest Treatment For Sinus Drainage And Dry Cough
Question: I have been dealing with bad sinus drainage, a dry cough and clogged sinus for the last month. I also noticed that the bottom of my right tonsil has a yellow/orange color on about the bottom half. The tonsil is not swollen and not sore. I am on my second round of augmenton antibiotic's The drainage seems to be getting better but I still have the occasional cough. It also seems every night my nose closes off and I breath through my mouth all night and wake up with my mouth and throat so dry. Thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
A cough from sinus drainage can sometimes continue for longer than the infection itself.
In addition to the antibiotic, you might consider a couple of other things:
1. Saline irrigation - either with a nettipot or with a prepared spray such as NeilMed or Simply Saline. This can help clean out the sinuses. You might want to use the hypertonic saline before you go to bed.
2. A nasal corticosteroid spray such as Flonase. Don't use it at the same time as the saline or it will just get washed or drip down your throat. Nasal corticosteroids help to decrease swelling and stabilize the membranes of the sinuses and may therefore decrease the drainage. Flonase or other steroid nasal sprays are sold over the counter now. They take a few days of daily use to really start working.
I am not sure what to make of the discoloration of the tonsil you described. If it is infected, usually there would be swelling and inflammation. It's possible that it is a foreign body such as food that is caught in a tonsillar crypt.
If you smoke cigarettes, be sure to quit as this can prolong recovery (and increase recurrence) of sinus infections.
If you have allergies, make sure your bedroom is as allergen free as possible. I can give you some suggestions for this if you think it might apply.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
A cough from sinus drainage can sometimes continue for longer than the infection itself.
In addition to the antibiotic, you might consider a couple of other things:
1. Saline irrigation - either with a nettipot or with a prepared spray such as NeilMed or Simply Saline. This can help clean out the sinuses. You might want to use the hypertonic saline before you go to bed.
2. A nasal corticosteroid spray such as Flonase. Don't use it at the same time as the saline or it will just get washed or drip down your throat. Nasal corticosteroids help to decrease swelling and stabilize the membranes of the sinuses and may therefore decrease the drainage. Flonase or other steroid nasal sprays are sold over the counter now. They take a few days of daily use to really start working.
I am not sure what to make of the discoloration of the tonsil you described. If it is infected, usually there would be swelling and inflammation. It's possible that it is a foreign body such as food that is caught in a tonsillar crypt.
If you smoke cigarettes, be sure to quit as this can prolong recovery (and increase recurrence) of sinus infections.
If you have allergies, make sure your bedroom is as allergen free as possible. I can give you some suggestions for this if you think it might apply.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Someone said it is possible pus from infection before I started antibiotics or because of all the drainage. Does that make any sense
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
My thoughts on this:
If it is pus in the tonsil, usually the tonsil would be swollen and inflamed.
If it is drainage, you would see pus/drainage on the tonsil. And it wouldn't usually be orange. Without seeing it, it is hard for me to know. But this is a possibility.
The Augmentin should treat an infection in the tonsil as it is treating the infection in the sinuses. With one exception: an abscess in or around the tonsil (peritonsillar abscess) needs to be incised and drained as it may not respond adequately to antibiotics without doing so. But a peritonsillar abscess is usually very painful.
Information
Detailed Answer:
My thoughts on this:
If it is pus in the tonsil, usually the tonsil would be swollen and inflamed.
If it is drainage, you would see pus/drainage on the tonsil. And it wouldn't usually be orange. Without seeing it, it is hard for me to know. But this is a possibility.
The Augmentin should treat an infection in the tonsil as it is treating the infection in the sinuses. With one exception: an abscess in or around the tonsil (peritonsillar abscess) needs to be incised and drained as it may not respond adequately to antibiotics without doing so. But a peritonsillar abscess is usually very painful.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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