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What Causes Chest Tightness And Dry Cough?
Question: I have been experiencing chest tightness and a dry cough for 5 weeks now. there is some post nasal drip as well but the most debilitating part is the chest tightness. I have been in the er 4 times since this started and everytime they say my lungs are clear. now I have been put on prednisone for 5 days its day 3 shouldnt I feel better? could I have bronchitis? A pulmonologist told me I have reactive airway 2 weeks ago and gave me a rescue inhaler which doesnt help
Brief Answer:
Allergy induced bronchitis, evaluate.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
I see similar cases amongst young people who visit my clinic, possibilities are
The First possibility is, your post nasal drip of sinusitis dripping into the lungs causing chest tightness and cough leading to wheeze and breathless on exertion.
The Second possibility is allergic rhinitis ( sequence of sneezes, running nose )inducing dry cough and infection in lungs leading to wheeze and chest tightness.
I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon, evaluate with Ent examination, complete blood picture with absolute eosinophilic count to rule out allergy and infection, ct paranasal sinuses to rule out sinusitis, xray chest to rule out extent of chest infection.
I do not advise you to take any medications, as you are already on bronchodilators and steroids. Go ahead for the investigations to know the root cause.
As preventive measure, stop taking chilled drinks, smoking, curd, ice creams, chilled climate. avoid dust, strong perfumes, avoid out side oily bakery products. continue steam inhalation twice daily for 3-5 days.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Allergy induced bronchitis, evaluate.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
I see similar cases amongst young people who visit my clinic, possibilities are
The First possibility is, your post nasal drip of sinusitis dripping into the lungs causing chest tightness and cough leading to wheeze and breathless on exertion.
The Second possibility is allergic rhinitis ( sequence of sneezes, running nose )inducing dry cough and infection in lungs leading to wheeze and chest tightness.
I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon, evaluate with Ent examination, complete blood picture with absolute eosinophilic count to rule out allergy and infection, ct paranasal sinuses to rule out sinusitis, xray chest to rule out extent of chest infection.
I do not advise you to take any medications, as you are already on bronchodilators and steroids. Go ahead for the investigations to know the root cause.
As preventive measure, stop taking chilled drinks, smoking, curd, ice creams, chilled climate. avoid dust, strong perfumes, avoid out side oily bakery products. continue steam inhalation twice daily for 3-5 days.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
My eosinophils were .10 a few weeks ago. what does this indicate? I just had a baby 3 months ago have always had seasonal allergies but nothing like this. is it possible to develop asthma out of the blue. I am 28 years old and have always been in good health. Before being on the steroids I took antihistamines with no relief. is it possible I just have a virus? before the tightness began I had a week of feeling run down then a sore throat then the tightness began. I had a chest xray which was clear and a chest ct which showed 3 nodules but my doctor wasnt concerned. what do you think?
Brief Answer:
nodules-requires investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Eosinophils with 10 suggests allergy or parasitic infections or eczema.
Lung nodules in CT scan suggests infection- tuberculosis, ascariasis. inflammation-sarcoidosis. tumours.
I suggest you to to consult chest physician and get evaluated for nodules in lung by other tests like bronchoscopy, biopsy.
According to your history, sore throat followed by a chest tightness suggests allergy induced bronchitis. There are prophylactic drug like montelukast can be taken as per your treating physician. Reserve your inhalants for acute stage.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health
nodules-requires investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Eosinophils with 10 suggests allergy or parasitic infections or eczema.
Lung nodules in CT scan suggests infection- tuberculosis, ascariasis. inflammation-sarcoidosis. tumours.
I suggest you to to consult chest physician and get evaluated for nodules in lung by other tests like bronchoscopy, biopsy.
According to your history, sore throat followed by a chest tightness suggests allergy induced bronchitis. There are prophylactic drug like montelukast can be taken as per your treating physician. Reserve your inhalants for acute stage.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thank you for your help. I have 3 more doses of steroids left and it is helping. I see an allergist In 2 weeks. my fear is to get so tight again after I end the steroids. Do you think I should take an antihistamine in the meantime. I was on allegra for a week that didnt help then I only tried claritin for one day. should I start the claritin again? my pulmonologist wants me to start symbicort but I feel this is very extreme considering they dont know the cause of my airway issues.
Brief Answer:
start symbicort.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
symbicort is a inhaler contains budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate, one is steroid another one is bronchodilator. continue the inhaler as per chest physician,it works best for lung disease.
(claritin) loratidine is a antihistamine, can be stopped now.you can start prophylactic tablet.motelukast after discussing with your chest physician.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
start symbicort.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.
symbicort is a inhaler contains budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate, one is steroid another one is bronchodilator. continue the inhaler as per chest physician,it works best for lung disease.
(claritin) loratidine is a antihistamine, can be stopped now.you can start prophylactic tablet.motelukast after discussing with your chest physician.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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