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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough In A Person With COPD
Question: I have my 95 year old mother staying with me and who has a very distressing cough, which has kept her awake much of the night. I obtained Amoxicillin 250mg capsules from an emergency clinic after calling 111.
She has taken 3 tablets so far, but the cough is still the same. She is able only to 'cough up' small amounts of pheglm and I would like to know what I can do to ease her coughing until the antibiotics take effect. She has not seen a doctor as I know she frequently has chest infections and I have taken it upon myself to assume this event is following the usual pattern which will be eleviated by antibiotics.
She does not appear to have a temperature but is saying that she feels there is something 'blocking' her throat - but this fact has been mentioned for some time. Whether she has mentioned this fact to her own Doctor I am not sure. She suffers from COPD and is breathing particularly poorly with no energy.
She has taken 3 tablets so far, but the cough is still the same. She is able only to 'cough up' small amounts of pheglm and I would like to know what I can do to ease her coughing until the antibiotics take effect. She has not seen a doctor as I know she frequently has chest infections and I have taken it upon myself to assume this event is following the usual pattern which will be eleviated by antibiotics.
She does not appear to have a temperature but is saying that she feels there is something 'blocking' her throat - but this fact has been mentioned for some time. Whether she has mentioned this fact to her own Doctor I am not sure. She suffers from COPD and is breathing particularly poorly with no energy.
Brief Answer:
consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
You are right about the cause of her illness. This may be lower respiratory tract infection ( LRTI ) mostly.
But in my opinion this time it might be more serious as she is not able to cough out sputum and her breathing is also poor.
Lung infection tend to be more severe in old age people especially if they are suffering from COPD.
As old age and COPD both can decrease lung immunity and make it more vulnerable to infection.
And she is not improving with 3 doses of amoxicillin, so better to consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray.
She may need hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
You are right about the cause of her illness. This may be lower respiratory tract infection ( LRTI ) mostly.
But in my opinion this time it might be more serious as she is not able to cough out sputum and her breathing is also poor.
Lung infection tend to be more severe in old age people especially if they are suffering from COPD.
As old age and COPD both can decrease lung immunity and make it more vulnerable to infection.
And she is not improving with 3 doses of amoxicillin, so better to consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray.
She may need hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you for your advice.
I will however monitor her condition today and wait a while longer before taking further action to see if antibiotics require longer to take effect.
What I really need from you now is advice as to what general help in the mean time I can give her to alleviate/help the coughing fits - such as hot lemon, honey?
In other words - non toxic 'stuff' to soothe the cough - as opposed to a 'cure'
I will however monitor her condition today and wait a while longer before taking further action to see if antibiotics require longer to take effect.
What I really need from you now is advice as to what general help in the mean time I can give her to alleviate/help the coughing fits - such as hot lemon, honey?
In other words - non toxic 'stuff' to soothe the cough - as opposed to a 'cure'
Brief Answer:
try steam inhalation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
In my opinion you can try these things .
1. Steam inhalation 5-6 times a day.
2. Deep breathing exercise if she can perform.
3. You can tap gently on her back, both sides by your hands. This will clear the secretions.
4. And you can definitely give hot lemon juice or honey. No harm in it.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
try steam inhalation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
In my opinion you can try these things .
1. Steam inhalation 5-6 times a day.
2. Deep breathing exercise if she can perform.
3. You can tap gently on her back, both sides by your hands. This will clear the secretions.
4. And you can definitely give hot lemon juice or honey. No harm in it.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advice so far.
The antibiotics are now working and the cough is much improved.
However, I have a secondary question concerning oedema in one of my mothers legs.
Her local doctor where she lives (which is a town 100 miles away) has noted the swelling and has arranged for her to have an xray in February 2015.
In the meantime, your advice would be welcomed as to any interim treatment I can provide.
The condition is painful and over the intervening 2 weeks the swelling has apparently been travelling up the leg.
In your reply I would appreciate not being referred to as 'dear'
Thank you
The antibiotics are now working and the cough is much improved.
However, I have a secondary question concerning oedema in one of my mothers legs.
Her local doctor where she lives (which is a town 100 miles away) has noted the swelling and has arranged for her to have an xray in February 2015.
In the meantime, your advice would be welcomed as to any interim treatment I can provide.
The condition is painful and over the intervening 2 weeks the swelling has apparently been travelling up the leg.
In your reply I would appreciate not being referred to as 'dear'
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Details about edema are necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your follow up question.
I want like to know few more details about edema.
1. Which side of the leg is edematous?
2. Is that limb inflamed(reddened)?
3. Does that limb feels itchy?
4. Is it the dependent limb?
The causes for unilateral lower limb edema in old age COPD patient are
1. Dependent edema due to constant bed ridden position.
2. Lower limb cellulitis (skin infection)
3. Deep venous thrombosis in vein of affected lower limb.
So kindly reply me answers of above mentioned questions, so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
Details about edema are necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your follow up question.
I want like to know few more details about edema.
1. Which side of the leg is edematous?
2. Is that limb inflamed(reddened)?
3. Does that limb feels itchy?
4. Is it the dependent limb?
The causes for unilateral lower limb edema in old age COPD patient are
1. Dependent edema due to constant bed ridden position.
2. Lower limb cellulitis (skin infection)
3. Deep venous thrombosis in vein of affected lower limb.
So kindly reply me answers of above mentioned questions, so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thank you for your latest reply
1) It appears that the inside of the leg is more swollen and includes the ankle.
2) we cannot see any inflamation or colouring of the limb
3) The limb does not feel itchy
4)Yes it is Mums dependant limb.
5) Mum is not bed ridden and does move around the house sometimes with the aid of a zimmer frame to keep her steady.
Thank you
1) It appears that the inside of the leg is more swollen and includes the ankle.
2) we cannot see any inflamation or colouring of the limb
3) The limb does not feel itchy
4)Yes it is Mums dependant limb.
5) Mum is not bed ridden and does move around the house sometimes with the aid of a zimmer frame to keep her steady.
Thank you
Brief Answer:
mostly dependent edema.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for your follow up question.
Since she is not having itching or discolouration, cellulitis and DVT are less likely.
Mostly she is having dependent edema due less movement.
So try to follow these things.
1. Keep 2 - 3 pillows under affected limb, so that edema can be resolved.
2. Ask her to walk and do leg physiotherapy in bed
3. Restrict fluid intake to less than 1.5 liters a day.
Mostly by these, her edema will reduce.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
mostly dependent edema.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for your follow up question.
Since she is not having itching or discolouration, cellulitis and DVT are less likely.
Mostly she is having dependent edema due less movement.
So try to follow these things.
1. Keep 2 - 3 pillows under affected limb, so that edema can be resolved.
2. Ask her to walk and do leg physiotherapy in bed
3. Restrict fluid intake to less than 1.5 liters a day.
Mostly by these, her edema will reduce.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wishing good health to your mother.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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