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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough While Having Bronchitis
Question: Hi I've had acute bronchitis with a lot of coughing and brown phlegm for a week now but no fever.I took ceftin 500mg . Bid for a week but got severe diarrhea so I discontinued it. I am taking Advil cold and sinus and mucinex qid and it helps.I feel better than last week but can't stop the coughing.Will this run its course or should Igo back to the dr.
Brief Answer:
Yes, you should definitely consult pulmonologist.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Bronchitis is inflammation of airways. And best treatment for this is inhaled treatment. Since you are not taking it, you are not improving fully.
So you should consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system and PFT (pulmonary function test).
PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
You will improve with inhaled bronchodilator and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes, you should definitely consult pulmonologist.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Bronchitis is inflammation of airways. And best treatment for this is inhaled treatment. Since you are not taking it, you are not improving fully.
So you should consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system and PFT (pulmonary function test).
PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
You will improve with inhaled bronchodilator and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No
Brief Answer:
Do you have breathlessness on exertion or chest tightness or pressure?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
It's good that you are not a smoker.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness on exertion?
2. Do you have chest congestion or tightness or pressure?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Do you have breathlessness on exertion or chest tightness or pressure?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
It's good that you are not a smoker.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness on exertion?
2. Do you have chest congestion or tightness or pressure?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
What about breathing difficulty or breathlessness on exertion?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Most common cause for bronchitis is viral infection.
But since you are health care provider, we should also think of bacterial infection also.
Bronchitis spreads by coughing. Coughing produces droplets and they are contagious to others.
So you might have contacted infection by one of your patients and dentists are at more risk.
You didn't mentioned anything about breathing difficulty.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathing difficulty?
2. Are you sure it is rattling and not wheezing (whistling sound)?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks
What about breathing difficulty or breathlessness on exertion?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Most common cause for bronchitis is viral infection.
But since you are health care provider, we should also think of bacterial infection also.
Bronchitis spreads by coughing. Coughing produces droplets and they are contagious to others.
So you might have contacted infection by one of your patients and dentists are at more risk.
You didn't mentioned anything about breathing difficulty.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathing difficulty?
2. Are you sure it is rattling and not wheezing (whistling sound)?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I just have to breath slow but rattling not wheezing . If I fully exhale that makes me cough
If we suspect bacterial should I start back on the ceftin? I've been off 2days
If we suspect bacterial should I start back on the ceftin? I've been off 2days
Brief Answer:
Better to start levofloxacin.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Instead of ceftin, you should start levofloxacin once daily for 5 days because you were having diarrhea due to ceftin.
Also do warm water gargles 5-6 times a day.
Wait for 5 days with levofloxacin to see for improvement.
You will mostly improve with levofloxacin.
If not improving after 5 days then consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system and PFT.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Better to start levofloxacin.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Instead of ceftin, you should start levofloxacin once daily for 5 days because you were having diarrhea due to ceftin.
Also do warm water gargles 5-6 times a day.
Wait for 5 days with levofloxacin to see for improvement.
You will mostly improve with levofloxacin.
If not improving after 5 days then consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system and PFT.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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