** Thanks for contacting with your health concern 1. With the history of symptoms of cough/congestion and shortness of breath either there is the possibility of seasonal allergy or chronic bronchitis, as such you should see a Chest Specialist for relevant physical examination and investigation like . Hb%, WBC for eosinophilia . X-ray chest for TB, Pneumonia . If other investigations are normal, HIV test [as routine] PS. As chest congestion is there, thus this is an indication for immediate chest X-ray. ii. The choice of antibiotic will vary from doctor to doctor, and from locality to locality, till then - maintain good oral hygiene, rinse your mouth after every meal, avoid smoking, tobacco chewing. - Take mainly soft diet - rice, chapati, or phulka, with nonspicy vegetables. - Avoid fried foods like wada, samosa, dosa, pakodas, papad,namkeen and potato chips, avoid hotel food. . Do not take any cold drinks, cold water, ice cream, chilled food from the refrigerator. . Avoid sour fruits like citrus fruits, grapes, take sweet fruits- bananas, papaya . Steam Inhalation and warm salt water gargles. . Cover the mouth while coughing (using hand or handkerchief) to prevent the spread of infection to other family members. iii. As symptoms flared up suddenly, it could be an acute viral illness [flu] so get a flu shot [high dose vaccine] as recommended by CDC and get a second opinion regarding medical evaluation and treatment.