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Cold, Blocked Nostrils, Difficulty Breathing, Thick Brown Phlegm, Headache. Treatment?
Hi doctor, Since a week i am suffering from cold and a nostril block. I have taken cheston cold to control my cold but past three days i am facing difficulty in breathing due to nostril block of one side and during inhaling with a slight pressure block gets cleared but the flum which is coming out is thick and brown in colur with this i am also suffering with a slight headache . Pls. suggest what could be the problem and what precuations to be taken.
Sun, 30 Sep 2012
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
Do you swelling and pain around cheeks?
You are most likely suffering from common cold (Acute flu fever) with secondary bacterial infection.
There may also be involvement of maxillary sinuses.
This may cause persisting infection with blockade of nose.
You should consult with physician and ENT surgeon and get thorough nasal check up.
You should take complete antibiotic course, decongestants, and anti-inflammatory medicines for relief of symptoms.
You should also perform gargles three times in a day with lukewarm water and a pinch of salt.
You should also take hot steam inhalation for relief of symptoms.
Take care,
Dr.Mayank Bhargava
Thanks for posting your query.
Do you swelling and pain around cheeks?
You are most likely suffering from common cold (Acute flu fever) with secondary bacterial infection.
There may also be involvement of maxillary sinuses.
This may cause persisting infection with blockade of nose.
You should consult with physician and ENT surgeon and get thorough nasal check up.
You should take complete antibiotic course, decongestants, and anti-inflammatory medicines for relief of symptoms.
You should also perform gargles three times in a day with lukewarm water and a pinch of salt.
You should also take hot steam inhalation for relief of symptoms.
Take care,
Dr.Mayank Bhargava
I find this answer helpful
Hello there..
Since its been more than a week you have cold , its probably infective and might not go with cheston cold alone. If you are also staying feverish it indicates bacterial infection superimposed on your viral illness of cold. So i suggest you start a course of antibiotics. Azithromycin is a good choice provided you have no history of allergy to it. Its taken 500mg tab once a day for 3days. DONOT USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO THIS GROUP OF DRUG. You also say you have secretions coming out which are brown and thick indicating bacterial infection.
Other measures which would help you are:
Resting in bed
Drinking plenty of fluids
Gargling with warm salt water or lozenges for a scratchy or sore throat
Using a decongestant or saline nasal spray to help relieve nasal symptoms. Topical decongestants should only be used for a maximum of 3 days in a row, because rebound congestion may occur in the form of rhinitis medicamentosa.
Nasal decongestants target the discomfort directly. These come as nasal sprays like, oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Duramist), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall) or as oral pills (Bronkaid, Sudafed, Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall). Oral decongestants may be used for up to a week like the cheston cold tablet you are using.
Taking paracetamol—Tylenol, for example—for headache or fever
If you still continue to have congestion and frontal headache ie sinusitis , you should consult ENT specialist.
Since its been more than a week you have cold , its probably infective and might not go with cheston cold alone. If you are also staying feverish it indicates bacterial infection superimposed on your viral illness of cold. So i suggest you start a course of antibiotics. Azithromycin is a good choice provided you have no history of allergy to it. Its taken 500mg tab once a day for 3days. DONOT USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO THIS GROUP OF DRUG. You also say you have secretions coming out which are brown and thick indicating bacterial infection.
Other measures which would help you are:
Resting in bed
Drinking plenty of fluids
Gargling with warm salt water or lozenges for a scratchy or sore throat
Using a decongestant or saline nasal spray to help relieve nasal symptoms. Topical decongestants should only be used for a maximum of 3 days in a row, because rebound congestion may occur in the form of rhinitis medicamentosa.
Nasal decongestants target the discomfort directly. These come as nasal sprays like, oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Duramist), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall) or as oral pills (Bronkaid, Sudafed, Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall). Oral decongestants may be used for up to a week like the cheston cold tablet you are using.
Taking paracetamol—Tylenol, for example—for headache or fever
If you still continue to have congestion and frontal headache ie sinusitis , you should consult ENT specialist.
I find this answer helpful
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