HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Severe Cough, Body Pain, Tightness In Chest And Breathlessness?

default
Posted on Fri, 13 Nov 2015
Question: Cough for about a week
Tight chest for about 4 days
Wednesday. Joints, shoulder blades lower back aching
Thursday. Tight chest breathless left lung hurting. Neck back knees arms bum hurting
Flu symptoms. Really tired for 4 days. Aching all over. Head aches. Feeling sick. No appetite.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Seems like lower respiratory tract infection, may need work up & antibiotic

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic!

Based on the history you have shared, it seems as if you are suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection. It can be community acquired pneumonia. You need to get evaluated by a GP and get your chest auscultated by him, for presence of any bronchospam aka narrowing of airways. Also to look for creptiations, due to accumulation of puss, infective exudates and debris in the lungs.

A chest Xray, complete blood count and ESR must be needed as your symptoms are not light enough to be dealt at home.

In my clinics I usually treat such patients with antibiotics like augmentin or azithromycin. if no significant response is achieved in first 3 days then antibiotics can be switched to moxifloxacin or clarithromycin. Pains can be due to repeated coughing or pleuritic irritations. You also need to use cough expectorants and analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If signs of narrowing of airways is observed, or wheeze or whistling sounds are present along with shortness of breath, salbutamol inhalers may also be needed. Using steam inhalations and avoiding greasy foods will also help with the symptoms.

If it doesn't settle, workup of certain autoimmune diseases including certain vascultidies should be done, as presence of joint pains alongwith non settling chest menifestations raise there likelihood bit treat as pneumonia or LRTI at this moment.

Hoping you a speedy recovery. You can reach me directly through my profile in future. If you dont have any more questions, please close the discussion. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (36 hours later)
Thank u. I have been to hospital and i have a PE in my left lung (again). 3 years ago after knee surgery i had 3 clots but this time it was unprivoked and they are discussing wheather i will need to be on warfarine for the reast of my life. I have to go to the hospital daily for an injection till the tablets start working. Im on codeine and paracitamol for pain and amoxicilin for my fever .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Continue blood thinners and keep check on the symptoms and clotting profile

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for updating me with the situation.

I wonder how quickly did they come up with the PE finding. There is a criteria for diagnosis called Wells criteria and certain blood tests to be sure about that. To start with D-Dimers and fibrinogen products in blood alongwith Xrays and ECG at times are suggestive enough for PE. Since you already have the tendency which you haven't shared before in your history. However it is good to have it confirmed with helical CT chest or angiogram to confirm it, as being on warfarin for the rest of your life is a big decision. Currently they must have put you on subcutaneous injections of heparin or LMWH for the clot. For warfarin many cautions should be observed later on, which includes persistent follow up with fresh INR levels and to keep PT in a certain limit and to adjust and readjust warfarin accordingly. Also that it has got interactions with many foods and drugs which increases it's levels to toxic grades of taken simultaneously. You should also discuss about using rivaroxiban instead of warfarin which acts in almost similar way but has lesser side effects.

Hoping you a speedy recovery. Keep me apprised of the outcomes. It was nice talking to you. You can reach me through my profile if you wish so, whenever new treatment and workup outcomes are put forth. If you dont have any more questions, please close the discussion. Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 3941 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Severe Cough, Body Pain, Tightness In Chest And Breathlessness?

Brief Answer: Seems like lower respiratory tract infection, may need work up & antibiotic Detailed Answer: Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Based on the history you have shared, it seems as if you are suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection. It can be community acquired pneumonia. You need to get evaluated by a GP and get your chest auscultated by him, for presence of any bronchospam aka narrowing of airways. Also to look for creptiations, due to accumulation of puss, infective exudates and debris in the lungs. A chest Xray, complete blood count and ESR must be needed as your symptoms are not light enough to be dealt at home. In my clinics I usually treat such patients with antibiotics like augmentin or azithromycin. if no significant response is achieved in first 3 days then antibiotics can be switched to moxifloxacin or clarithromycin. Pains can be due to repeated coughing or pleuritic irritations. You also need to use cough expectorants and analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If signs of narrowing of airways is observed, or wheeze or whistling sounds are present along with shortness of breath, salbutamol inhalers may also be needed. Using steam inhalations and avoiding greasy foods will also help with the symptoms. If it doesn't settle, workup of certain autoimmune diseases including certain vascultidies should be done, as presence of joint pains alongwith non settling chest menifestations raise there likelihood bit treat as pneumonia or LRTI at this moment. Hoping you a speedy recovery. You can reach me directly through my profile in future. If you dont have any more questions, please close the discussion. Regards