Suggest Treatment For Persistent Rattling Cough

Posted on Tue, 10 Mar 2015

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

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 Answered on

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My girlfriend has had a cough for about 3 or 4 months now. It starts off as a regular sounding cough then towards the end there is this deep , deep sound that almost sounds like reverse sneeze that dogs do. It is extremely deep and has a low frequency i honestly feel like the walls shake in the house when it is exerted. She has a very small frame but the sound that comes out sounds like it should be coming from a NFL lineman. What is this type of cough called? Is there a way to cure or treat it?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is known as wet, rattling cough.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
The sound you are talking about is due to retained secretions in the lung.
The most common cause for this is lung infection.
Infection in the lung , produce localised inflammatory reaction and thus edema and secretions tend to accumulate in that part.
So when patient coughs, typical wet kind of fluidic sound heard. This kind of cough is known as wet, rattling, crackling cough.
And she needs chest x ray first to diagnose lung infection.
Treatment consist of antibiotic, mucolytic and expectorant.
So better to consult pulmonologist and first diagnose her and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing her good health.
Thanks.

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