Suggest Treatment For Dry Cough And Severe Cold

Posted on Fri, 28 Oct 2016

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

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 Answered on

Thu, 17 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi so for about week now (since last friday) i have had severe cold symptoms (runny nose severe cough chills), and now its gotten to the point where im coughing so much that i cant sleep, my body feels weak and lethargic, i cant seem to even get out of bed for very long because of how exhausted and sluggish i feel, my cough has gone from a normal dry cough to being so bad that every time i cough its like i cant get my lungs to accept air back into them after every cough, overall i just feel horrible, and ive had pneumonia before and its beginning to feel kinda like it did then. I have a leftover prescription of sulfa antibiotics but i have no insurance, so i need to know if maybe i can get away with just taking those or if i have to go in to see someone, i have 2 kids and i can barely afford to keep the lights on so i need to know for sure if there is anything i can do before having to spend a ton of money going in to see a doctor.

Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I am Dr Mittal.
I have read your query.
I think I can help you.
First, I would really suggest testing with at least a chest x ray and sputum culture. This is absolutely essential especially since like you said, yo have had pneumonia.
And do consider the possibilities if either of your 2 kids catches the infection.
Meanwhile, I would suggest the follows-
1. Steam inhalation 4 times a day.
2. Warm saline gargles 4 times a day.
3. Tab Paracetamol 500 as required for fever and bodyache.
4. Honey in water may actually help you soothe your throat as a cough suppressant- you can always use the antitussive available to you.
5. Finally, antibiotics are actually best taken after a culture report, or at least after sending the samples for the same. But yes, you may try the antibiotics.
6. A multivitamin as easily available needs to be taken once a day.
I have tried my best to help you.
I have made it as simple as possible.
Please feel free to contact me if there is something more specific you need to know.
Please do realize that I have suggested the bare minimum investigations- ideally you need a much larger spectrum of tests.
Best of luck.
Dr Mittal

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