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What Causes Persistent Cough?
Question: I've had a cough for two-three days. It began with my hearing strange little noises in my chest in bed at night - little wheezes, almost little 'tunes'. Then came the cough: deep, grating, infrequent. My pharmacist sent me Exputex. I am taking 15ml 3 times daily as directed on bottle. Being anxious about pneumonia, I saw my GP. He found no temperature or other symptom and reassured me. I am taking things very easy. There may be a slight improvement but not significant. I am a woman of almost 88 and live alone so I have to mind my health which is usually excellent. I forgot to mention to the GP that in my mid-teens I was hospitalised for what I think was TB, though the word was never mentioned in my presence (it was dreaded at the time, regarded almost as a death sentence). Thank you very much in advance.XXXX
Brief Answer:
continue meds as suggested
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned but most cases of cough and cold are due to viral infections.
Viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose,ears, throat) or viral infection of the bronchi (viral bronchitis). It is even possible to have viral pneumonia.
None of these would require or respond to antibiotic treatment.
Bronchitis can present with a persistent cough with maybe productive of sputum. Eputex is a mucolytic which would help to break up the mucus in these airways so that it can be easily expelled.
It can sometimes take a few weeks for a cough to completely resolve. Potentially it can take up to 6 weeks for this to occur due to lingering inflammation in the chest.
Continue to take the medication till a few days after the cough becomes dry.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
continue meds as suggested
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned but most cases of cough and cold are due to viral infections.
Viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose,ears, throat) or viral infection of the bronchi (viral bronchitis). It is even possible to have viral pneumonia.
None of these would require or respond to antibiotic treatment.
Bronchitis can present with a persistent cough with maybe productive of sputum. Eputex is a mucolytic which would help to break up the mucus in these airways so that it can be easily expelled.
It can sometimes take a few weeks for a cough to completely resolve. Potentially it can take up to 6 weeks for this to occur due to lingering inflammation in the chest.
Continue to take the medication till a few days after the cough becomes dry.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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