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Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath And Dry Cough
Question: My 24 year old son has mild shortness of breath and dry cough. He feels generally uncomfortable. He had a fever of 101. He did go to his primary care doctor who gave him arithromiazine and methylpredisone. His fever is gone but still has dry cough and wheezing.
Brief Answer:
How bad is cough?
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
This shortness of breath and dry cough seem to be due to hyper-reactivity of airways after infection/bronchitis. Kindly let me know the following details.
Does he have history of allergies or asthma? How bad is the cough? How often does it happen? Does it wake him from sleep?
Since there is shortness of breath, I recommend use of inhalers for sometime. It will help him breathe better until the shortness of breath and wheezing is gone. Also steam inhalation will be helpful in dry cough.
Lozenges to soothe the throat will also be helpful.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
How bad is cough?
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
This shortness of breath and dry cough seem to be due to hyper-reactivity of airways after infection/bronchitis. Kindly let me know the following details.
Does he have history of allergies or asthma? How bad is the cough? How often does it happen? Does it wake him from sleep?
Since there is shortness of breath, I recommend use of inhalers for sometime. It will help him breathe better until the shortness of breath and wheezing is gone. Also steam inhalation will be helpful in dry cough.
Lozenges to soothe the throat will also be helpful.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Cough is not terrible and not keeping him up more annoying and he has been working long hours at his job. He's young but in my opinion being his mom I think he's run down. He does not have a history of allergies or asthma but he does get sinus infections and he has large tonsils.
Asthma and sinus problems are in family history.
Asthma and sinus problems are in family history.
Brief Answer:
It is mild hyper-reactivity
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
It is mild hyper-reactivity that will get better in few days.
In my opinion azithromycin and prednisone not to be taken together.
If his fever is down, then azithromycin can be discontinued as it can sometimes cause hyper-reactivity.
For shortness of breath, inhaler of salbutamol or its syrup formulation maybe taken. You will need doctor's prescription for it.
Dr Vaishalee
It is mild hyper-reactivity
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
It is mild hyper-reactivity that will get better in few days.
In my opinion azithromycin and prednisone not to be taken together.
If his fever is down, then azithromycin can be discontinued as it can sometimes cause hyper-reactivity.
For shortness of breath, inhaler of salbutamol or its syrup formulation maybe taken. You will need doctor's prescription for it.
Dr Vaishalee
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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