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What Causes Persistent Cough, Chest Pain And Sore Throat?
Question: Hello Doctor, I have persistent cough, chest pain and sore throat, my tongue feels a little inflamed too. The cough is sometimes dry and sometimes with phlegm, I have been dealing with this for a month now... Please help me. Could this be bronchitis?
Brief Answer:
Some information:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry you have been sick so long.
Bronchitis means that the airways that lead to the lung are inflamed. This can happen from a virus, or can start out as a virus and become infected with bacteria. When bronchitis is a bacterial infection, the phlegm is discolored (looks like yellow pus) and not just when you first get up in the morning.
I am concerned about the persistent sore throat and tongue. For this I would recommend that you go in to your doctor or an urgent care clinic tomorrow and have your throat swabbed to make sure there isn't a strep infection. Usuallywith strep the throat is very painful and there is a fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
It could still be a persistent virus, if the mucus isn't discolored all the time. If you cough to the point that your chest hurts, a cough suppressant that has codeine in it can help.
If your chest hurts because it's hard to breathe, then you should get a chest X-ray to make sure there isn't walking pneumonia, although usually there is a fever with pneumonia.
If you think your throat is sore from drainage down the back, coming from the sinuses (sometimes people don't feel this), then a decongestant like pseudoephedrine might help.
Since it has been a month, I think it would be a good idea to go in so that the doctor can have a good luck at your throat and listen to your lungs.
Antibiotics help if the symptoms are predominantly bacterial (yellow mucus, fever) and if the symptoms have not gone away in a couple of weeks.
I hope this information helps. I think you will know more after you are examined. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Some information:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry you have been sick so long.
Bronchitis means that the airways that lead to the lung are inflamed. This can happen from a virus, or can start out as a virus and become infected with bacteria. When bronchitis is a bacterial infection, the phlegm is discolored (looks like yellow pus) and not just when you first get up in the morning.
I am concerned about the persistent sore throat and tongue. For this I would recommend that you go in to your doctor or an urgent care clinic tomorrow and have your throat swabbed to make sure there isn't a strep infection. Usuallywith strep the throat is very painful and there is a fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
It could still be a persistent virus, if the mucus isn't discolored all the time. If you cough to the point that your chest hurts, a cough suppressant that has codeine in it can help.
If your chest hurts because it's hard to breathe, then you should get a chest X-ray to make sure there isn't walking pneumonia, although usually there is a fever with pneumonia.
If you think your throat is sore from drainage down the back, coming from the sinuses (sometimes people don't feel this), then a decongestant like pseudoephedrine might help.
Since it has been a month, I think it would be a good idea to go in so that the doctor can have a good luck at your throat and listen to your lungs.
Antibiotics help if the symptoms are predominantly bacterial (yellow mucus, fever) and if the symptoms have not gone away in a couple of weeks.
I hope this information helps. I think you will know more after you are examined. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for the information, Doctor!
What bothers me the most is the chest pain and cough, I feel pressure in the middle of my chest and mild pain. I don't have fever at all, just the discomfort from the coughing. When I swallow it hurts a bit, but not sure if it's caused by all the coughing. I forgot to tell you, I have like a itch sensation in my larynx. On the back of my throat I don't feel pain. It is possible for my tongue to feel inflamed on the tip, because of the constant coughing? Sometimes I feel breathless because of it.
Thank you!
What bothers me the most is the chest pain and cough, I feel pressure in the middle of my chest and mild pain. I don't have fever at all, just the discomfort from the coughing. When I swallow it hurts a bit, but not sure if it's caused by all the coughing. I forgot to tell you, I have like a itch sensation in my larynx. On the back of my throat I don't feel pain. It is possible for my tongue to feel inflamed on the tip, because of the constant coughing? Sometimes I feel breathless because of it.
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Information:
Detailed Answer:
The chest pain you are describing may be musculoskeletal strain from having done so much coughing for so long. The codeine cough suppressant may help that. And it requires a prescription.
It's possible this is a persistent virus, but if you are having a tickle or itch in your throat, you might be having drainage going down the back of your throat. And that might be what is keeping your cough going.
It's best for you to be examined at this point. But if you have any sinus congestion that is contributing to all of this, you can try a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase. It takes a few days to work. I am thinking if you have post nasal drainage it would help that.
I am not sure what is going on with your tongue. Sometimes the tongue can be sore from acid reflux. And sometimes the tongue can be sore from whatever process is going on in your throat.
Information:
Detailed Answer:
The chest pain you are describing may be musculoskeletal strain from having done so much coughing for so long. The codeine cough suppressant may help that. And it requires a prescription.
It's possible this is a persistent virus, but if you are having a tickle or itch in your throat, you might be having drainage going down the back of your throat. And that might be what is keeping your cough going.
It's best for you to be examined at this point. But if you have any sinus congestion that is contributing to all of this, you can try a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase. It takes a few days to work. I am thinking if you have post nasal drainage it would help that.
I am not sure what is going on with your tongue. Sometimes the tongue can be sore from acid reflux. And sometimes the tongue can be sore from whatever process is going on in your throat.
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
Answered by
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