Suggest Treatment For Severe Bouts Of Dry Cough

Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015

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

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 Answered on

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My father, 81 years old, had severe bouts of dry cough , which reduces when he sits up and increases very much on lying down, Chest X ray report states " Minimal inhomogenous opacity is noted in both upper zones-? infectice etiology".His cough reduces when given Duolin through Nebulizer. What is the diagnosis ?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done sputum examination for AFB.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your father's situation and problem.
Cough worsening with lying down position is seen in either bronchitis or heart diseases.
So please let me know
1. Is he suffering from diabetes or hypertension or any other heart diseases?
2. Is he smoker?
3. Is the having breathlessness?
4. Is he having fever?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your father.
Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (37 minutes later)

He is a chronic diabetes patient for the last ~ 30 years. He had a stroke(Brain) recently , but has recovered fully. He had a heart attack about 13 years ago and has been recently diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. He is not a smoke. He has no fever.ECG conducted shows no abnormality except for the old heart attack. Heart size is normal as per X ray report. All other parts of lung normal as per X ray report. His blood test shows WBC count of 13600 and ESR of 31(by westergreen method).

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of infection is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
Thanks for the details.
Since his WBCs are raised and ESR is high, possibility of infection is more.
And in upper zones, tuberculosis is more common.
So please let me know
1. Since how many days he is having this cough?
2. Was he having tuberculosis in the past?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.

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