Suggest Remedies For Cough In An Elderly Person

Posted on Sun, 26 Feb 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 26 Feb 2017 Answered on

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My father is 85 and thinks that he may have pneumonia. He has had a lot of phlegm and is coughing. This has been going on for about two weeks. There is no urgent care office in his little town of Caro, MI. Is there anything that he can do without going to the emergency room?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be a complication pneumonia

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

I have been through your question.

Usually in the old person having cough for more than three to four days after a viral situation could be a complication pneumonia. Related to your concern I suggest to use mucolytic syrup (like bromhexine), antihistaminic ( loratadini) to relief the cough , multivitamins to raise immunity and starting an antibiotic (I would prescribe clarithromicin or avalox if he doesn't have allergy) but for the antibiotics I prefer to speak before starting with your doctor because need to do some physical examination, pulmonary auscultation and chest radiography, Oxygen saturation evaluation, full blood count and maybe other tests related the other diseases that your father could have.In some time needed to use two antibiotics and in intravenous route and oxygen therapy but this related to the diseases severity.

I hope my answer helps you.I wish your father a quick recovery.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D