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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Cough
Question: Had a violent cough for a couple of months. Stopped for about two. Daughter brought home virus and cough reappeared. Chest xrays clear but a strange thump (not a pop or crackling) on forceful exhale. Frequent indigestion. Wet cough in morning. Mucous is mostly clear
Brief Answer:
post nasal drip
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
A cough that lasts more than 8 weeks is typically called a chronic cough.
There are 3 common causes of chronic coughing such as: (1) post nasal drip of mucus- this is the most common of the 3.
Some persons may not be aware of the drip itself and may only present with coughing.
Symptoms may be worse either at night or early morning. It is usually worsened or caused by response to an allergen eg dust , pollen, banana (had a patient whose allergy tests showed she was allergic) or infection
Treatment involves anti histamines/decongestant combination along with a topical steroid nasal spray such as nasonex, nasocort, flonase, rhinocort
Treatment can sometimes take a few weeks for maximum effect.
(2) REflux is another cause. Again the typical symptoms may not be noted (Burning , bloating)
Some persons have both the reflux and post nasal drip and this maybe the case for you.
Reflux is treated with reflux meds such as nexium, prilosec, prevacid, protonix
(3) asthma
Though most doctors would start off with treatment for post nasal drip alone since this is the most common, however because you have indigestion, you may need treatment for both initially
I hope this helps, fee free to ask any other questions
post nasal drip
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
A cough that lasts more than 8 weeks is typically called a chronic cough.
There are 3 common causes of chronic coughing such as: (1) post nasal drip of mucus- this is the most common of the 3.
Some persons may not be aware of the drip itself and may only present with coughing.
Symptoms may be worse either at night or early morning. It is usually worsened or caused by response to an allergen eg dust , pollen, banana (had a patient whose allergy tests showed she was allergic) or infection
Treatment involves anti histamines/decongestant combination along with a topical steroid nasal spray such as nasonex, nasocort, flonase, rhinocort
Treatment can sometimes take a few weeks for maximum effect.
(2) REflux is another cause. Again the typical symptoms may not be noted (Burning , bloating)
Some persons have both the reflux and post nasal drip and this maybe the case for you.
Reflux is treated with reflux meds such as nexium, prilosec, prevacid, protonix
(3) asthma
Though most doctors would start off with treatment for post nasal drip alone since this is the most common, however because you have indigestion, you may need treatment for both initially
I hope this helps, fee free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I want to know what the thump sound (not popping or crackling) might be. It feel mechanical.
Brief Answer:
may be related to the musculature
Detailed Answer:
HI
Abnormal noises on breathing would have to related to one of the structures involved in breathing.
This includes a wide range of structures :(1) the muscles in the upper and lower respiratory tract that expand and contract with each phase
(2)the bones- the x rays would have demonstrated any changes here
(3)the airways themselves- any blockage in any of the air passages from the nose down to the lungs
If the noise feels or sounds mechanical then it is possible that it may be related to musculature of the airways.
More in depth imaging may be needed eg CT . This would be able to give more information on any changes present
Please feel free to ask any other questions
may be related to the musculature
Detailed Answer:
HI
Abnormal noises on breathing would have to related to one of the structures involved in breathing.
This includes a wide range of structures :(1) the muscles in the upper and lower respiratory tract that expand and contract with each phase
(2)the bones- the x rays would have demonstrated any changes here
(3)the airways themselves- any blockage in any of the air passages from the nose down to the lungs
If the noise feels or sounds mechanical then it is possible that it may be related to musculature of the airways.
More in depth imaging may be needed eg CT . This would be able to give more information on any changes present
Please feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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