Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough And Breathlessness

Posted on Wed, 1 Feb 2017

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

Wed, 1 Feb 2017 Answered on

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi... 75 yo male in otherwise good health. Bit of a throat tickle so went to gargle some Cepacaine oral solution. Part way through this process, some trickled down the esophagus (about 5ml) and this was followed instantly by what felt like loss of breath, and violent coughing. Two hours later still causing some"catching" of breath and need to cough. Question: Will this settle down of it's own accord without need for intervention and is there anything I can do/take to relieve the symptoms? Thank you so much for taking my question.

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Symptoms due to aspirating into the respiratory tract

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
The reason for your violent coughing and breathlessness is that you aspirated a little of the gargle into your respiratory tract.
The stimulation of larynx and trachea is sufficient to produce the symptoms or some fluid may have reached your lungs.
If the breathlessness doesn't go away, it would be better to go to the ER to have yourself checked.
Do get back if you have further questions.

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