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What Causes Persistent Cough, Chest Congestion And Cold?

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Posted on Wed, 4 May 2016
Question: yes. I've been sick with a cough and congestion. It started out approximately a month or so ago. I have had coughing and congestion not unlike a cold. I wore it out or so I thought. About a week later it came back and I felt really bad with same sort of symptoms plus my head hurt. I ended up at the ER and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. I was on a regiment of amok-clav. 800mg & benzonatate 100mg for 10 days. Last Tuesday I finished the medicine. Now I spend my nights in recliner taking doses or Mucinnex DM Extra XXXXXXX and coughing my head off. and hacking up mucus . Any suggestions?
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Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
4 possibilities in my opinion, please read carefully

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. In my opinion there could be 4 possible scenarios from the information provided ma'am:

1. You could have been resistant to the given antibiotics, which is why you did not experience a complete recovery whilst on it or even after completing the course

2. The duration of use (although usually 10 days, but at times individuals may also require a 14-day course) may have been insufficient which is why you may have recovered partially, but not completely

3. The infection has been completely treated, but some residual mucus build up may still be present which has to be drained using medication like bronchodilators and expectorants

4. The source of the infection may still be present, which is why you may have recovered using the antibiotics, but would have been re-infected due to repeated exposure (e.g. an infected person who gave you the infection, could still have it, and would have re-infected you with it).

E.g. Scenario 4 happens in my household very often, when I fall sick my wife cares for me and nurses me to health, but towards the end of my infection, she gets infected. So once I am better, I have to care for her and nurse her to health, after which quite often I fall sick again.

So you will have to speak to your doctor and request for a chest X-ray, a blood investigation to check whether the infection is still present or if this is an allergic reaction, medications and routine to help expel all the residual mucus build up.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Persistent Cough, Chest Congestion And Cold?

Brief Answer: 4 possibilities in my opinion, please read carefully Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. In my opinion there could be 4 possible scenarios from the information provided ma'am: 1. You could have been resistant to the given antibiotics, which is why you did not experience a complete recovery whilst on it or even after completing the course 2. The duration of use (although usually 10 days, but at times individuals may also require a 14-day course) may have been insufficient which is why you may have recovered partially, but not completely 3. The infection has been completely treated, but some residual mucus build up may still be present which has to be drained using medication like bronchodilators and expectorants 4. The source of the infection may still be present, which is why you may have recovered using the antibiotics, but would have been re-infected due to repeated exposure (e.g. an infected person who gave you the infection, could still have it, and would have re-infected you with it). E.g. Scenario 4 happens in my household very often, when I fall sick my wife cares for me and nurses me to health, but towards the end of my infection, she gets infected. So once I am better, I have to care for her and nurse her to health, after which quite often I fall sick again. So you will have to speak to your doctor and request for a chest X-ray, a blood investigation to check whether the infection is still present or if this is an allergic reaction, medications and routine to help expel all the residual mucus build up. I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help. Best wishes.