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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough

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Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Question: My mother who is 76 has been on Levaquin and TussionexER for 5 days. Her cough is no better and she still feels yucky. Should she return to her physician's office?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it depends

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

whether she should return depends on her general condition. If only the cough troubles her and your doctor has diagnosed a respiratory tract infection, then there is probably nothing worrisome. The cough may need some time to get better. If her general condition is better (no fever, no shortness of breath, etc) she should wait.

If - on the contrary - she feels more weak, she has fever or she has shortness of breath/pain during respiratory movements or other symptoms that raise concerns about a worsening infection she should visit the doctor right away. She should also visit the doctor if the diagnosis is not certain and other causes are suspected (like heart related cough).

Levaquin is a potent antibiotic and covers the most common pathogens of the respiratory tract particularly if the patient is antibiotic-naive.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information or if you'd like to provide more details about her condition or progress.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 minutes later)
Well she has had the cough for about a month and a half, that is why she originally went to the doctor! What about that?
Also her doctor has suspected possible pneumonia!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
the cough make take a long time to wear off

Detailed Answer:
Pneumonia can be easily confirmed or excluded with a chest X-ray.
Post-infectious cough may last for up to two months, so this is not such a long time. If the cough is getting worse though as time goes by, then this could be concerning and it's another reason for her to do the X-ray.
Levaquin covers for most of post-infectious cough causes, so it's a good choice.

So in conclusion, if her general condition is good (no fever, no shortness of breath, no pleuritic pain, etc) then she can wait a little more. A chest X-ray would be a helpful addition to the investigation...

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (4 minutes later)
Yes she has had a chest x-ray but no one has called yet! I guess we will just wait or I will call on Monday because for goodness sakes her doctors office is closed!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
so her clinical status should guide you

Detailed Answer:
It seems like you don't have many options but to wait. If any of the aforementioned ominous signs occurs though, you should take her to the ER.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough

Brief Answer: it depends Detailed Answer: Hello, whether she should return depends on her general condition. If only the cough troubles her and your doctor has diagnosed a respiratory tract infection, then there is probably nothing worrisome. The cough may need some time to get better. If her general condition is better (no fever, no shortness of breath, etc) she should wait. If - on the contrary - she feels more weak, she has fever or she has shortness of breath/pain during respiratory movements or other symptoms that raise concerns about a worsening infection she should visit the doctor right away. She should also visit the doctor if the diagnosis is not certain and other causes are suspected (like heart related cough). Levaquin is a potent antibiotic and covers the most common pathogens of the respiratory tract particularly if the patient is antibiotic-naive. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information or if you'd like to provide more details about her condition or progress. Kind Regards!