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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough

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Posted on Tue, 6 Oct 2015
Question: Should I go to ER with a severe cough? No urgent cares are open for 5 more hours? Have typical flu symptoms as well. Have history of bronchitis.
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
the differential diagnosis is too broad!

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

whether an urgent investigation is needed or not depends on many factors. I'll mention some alarming symptoms and signs for you to consider.

- high fever makes the diagnosis of serious diseases more probable.
- shortness of breath, requires urgent treatment.
- pleuritic pain may signify pneumonia with pleuritis, pericarditis, pulmonary emoblism, etc, so it's a serious symptom.
- hypotension and fast heart rate are signs of serious conditions.

If you only have a runny nose and cough but no shortness of breath or fever then this is probably not an urgent situation.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough

Brief Answer: the differential diagnosis is too broad! Detailed Answer: Hello, whether an urgent investigation is needed or not depends on many factors. I'll mention some alarming symptoms and signs for you to consider. - high fever makes the diagnosis of serious diseases more probable. - shortness of breath, requires urgent treatment. - pleuritic pain may signify pneumonia with pleuritis, pericarditis, pulmonary emoblism, etc, so it's a serious symptom. - hypotension and fast heart rate are signs of serious conditions. If you only have a runny nose and cough but no shortness of breath or fever then this is probably not an urgent situation. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information. Kind Regards!