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What Causes Fever And Cold Followed By Severe Cough?
Question: Hi there,
My son (3 years old) has had a cough for about 2 months now. Its a productive cough and occurs about 20-30 times a day. Rarely at night (maybe 2 times at night he coughs). He had a fever and cold at the beginning of all this 2 months ago. He got over the fever and cold other than the cough. He now seems to have contracted another cold about a week ago. He was on Augmentin for about 15 days and it also taking a nose spray to help open his sinuses. They seemed to help a little, but the day he went off the augmentin is when his new cold developed. He is in preschool now and maybe contracted something else, but the coughing has never fully gone away.
His doctor got him a chest and sinus x ray a few days ago. The chest x ray was clear and the sinus x ray showed slight mucosal swelling. He didn't want to put him on another antibiotic right away, but we really aren't sure where to go from here.
Any advice on testing we should do next? Or meds that might help him? I feel terrible that hes been coughing this long and nothing seems to fully fix it. He is eating and energy level is fine--just this continued cough.
My son (3 years old) has had a cough for about 2 months now. Its a productive cough and occurs about 20-30 times a day. Rarely at night (maybe 2 times at night he coughs). He had a fever and cold at the beginning of all this 2 months ago. He got over the fever and cold other than the cough. He now seems to have contracted another cold about a week ago. He was on Augmentin for about 15 days and it also taking a nose spray to help open his sinuses. They seemed to help a little, but the day he went off the augmentin is when his new cold developed. He is in preschool now and maybe contracted something else, but the coughing has never fully gone away.
His doctor got him a chest and sinus x ray a few days ago. The chest x ray was clear and the sinus x ray showed slight mucosal swelling. He didn't want to put him on another antibiotic right away, but we really aren't sure where to go from here.
Any advice on testing we should do next? Or meds that might help him? I feel terrible that hes been coughing this long and nothing seems to fully fix it. He is eating and energy level is fine--just this continued cough.
Brief Answer:
COULD BE ALLERGY/ SINUSITIS/TB-NEEDS INVESTIGATIONS.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that he is having cough since 2 months.
I would like to ask you few more details.
Is there any wheeze or breathlessness ?
Is his cough associated with fever or mouth breathing ?
Kindly get back to me with the details.
As per your clinical details, it appears to be Allergic bronchitis or could be sinusitis (sinus secretions) causing lung infection or tuberculosis.
I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon get detailed ENT examination,(adenoid, tonsillar or sinus infections- sources of infection), TB-pcr (polymerase chain reaction), sputum for culture and sensitivity (AFB, grams stain), blood tests- complete blood picture with ESR, serum IgE. If necessary repeat x-ray chest. Depending on the examination, treatment can be started.
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.
COULD BE ALLERGY/ SINUSITIS/TB-NEEDS INVESTIGATIONS.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that he is having cough since 2 months.
I would like to ask you few more details.
Is there any wheeze or breathlessness ?
Is his cough associated with fever or mouth breathing ?
Kindly get back to me with the details.
As per your clinical details, it appears to be Allergic bronchitis or could be sinusitis (sinus secretions) causing lung infection or tuberculosis.
I suggest you to to consult ent surgeon get detailed ENT examination,(adenoid, tonsillar or sinus infections- sources of infection), TB-pcr (polymerase chain reaction), sputum for culture and sensitivity (AFB, grams stain), blood tests- complete blood picture with ESR, serum IgE. If necessary repeat x-ray chest. Depending on the examination, treatment can be started.
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. Raju A.T
Thank you! He does not have a fever, and he also doesn't have wheezing or mouth breathing. He has a runny nose and a lot of drainage right now. He was on augmentin (amox and clauv) for 15 days and ended it a week ago. Because the chest x ray showed slight mucus membrane swelling, do you think an antibiotic would help this in the meantime while we wait for an appointment? If yes, which one would you recommend?
Brief Answer:
Seems to be allergy, needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
Continuous running nose suggests allergic rhinitis, already you have completed the course of broad spectrum antibiotic (augmentin).
In my opinion, do not take chance with babies. Evaluate with the investigations, what, I have already mentioned. Antibiotics or other medications can be started after proper evaluation.
Hope, I have answered your query.
Take care.
Seems to be allergy, needs evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
Continuous running nose suggests allergic rhinitis, already you have completed the course of broad spectrum antibiotic (augmentin).
In my opinion, do not take chance with babies. Evaluate with the investigations, what, I have already mentioned. Antibiotics or other medications can be started after proper evaluation.
Hope, I have answered your query.
Take care.
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. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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