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What Causes Cold And Dry Cough While On Mucinex?

Posted on Mon, 17 Jul 2017

Question: I have stable COPD on Dulera. I am 58 years old. I have had a cold for the last 10 days which was productive at times; XXXXXXX sputum. Now it is a frequent dry cough. I note extreme halitosis today and a lingering foul taste in my mouth. My halitosis is so severe, even my wife noted it. I am on my way to CVS to purchase Mucinex and a thermometer. I will make an appt. with my PCP tomorrow. Is it possible that I have pneumonia again? It has been 10 years or more since I had pneumonia.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it is a possibility

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Yes, it is a possibility

Pneumonia is assessed / diagnosed clinically. Fever with cough and typical auscultation findings may prompt empiric antibiotic therapy without the need of further investigations.

An x ray chest PA view can be advised.
CURB 65 scoring is done to assess the severity and decide on the empiric therapy. It includes the following parameters to obtain a score.

Confusion
Blood Urea nitrogen
Respiratory rate
Blood pressure or less
Age 65 or older

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar