What Causes Excessive Coughing When On Antibiotics For Strep Throat?

Posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014

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

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 Answered on

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been on antibiotics for Strep & sore throat with "ammoxicillan" for a week 1/2 & about to be finished tomorrow. At first everything went away but now at the end of the antibiotic the sore throat with a sore tongue is coming back. It also goes into my Bronchi area & resulted in a lot of coughing. I am afraid of a super bug resistant to antibiotics.. Is this possible I am diabetic on medication with it under control. I have high blood pressure which is under control with medication. I also take a statin for cholesterol. Am on aspirin regimen daily. Take Benedryl daily for sinus drainage. No serious illness or surgery otherwise. I was diagnosed with K-dif & sore throat which a culture was taken, 2 1;2 wks. ago & put on antibiotic for it. The blood work came back with some elevation of white blood cells. Gave me antibiotic to start & 3 days later the culture for Strep came back possible for Strep Type D. The Dr. said to continue antibiotics. When I finished them the sore throat had come back worse. Went in to see Dr., he did another blood test & found white blood cells lowered from before but slightly elevated still. He prescribed full round of Amoxicillan & sore throat went away 2 days later. But now antibiotics be finished tomorrow & the sore throat has come back & getting worse daily over 3 day period. The sore throat & tongue feels like thrush but there are no tremendous amount of white spots, only a fe

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer: probably organism is partially resistant to the an Detailed Answer: Hello madam, There are 5 possibilities - 1) If you have excessive coughing then there is a chance that you have developed either acute bronchitis or pneumonia. Inspite of taking the full course of antibiotics if you go on to develop acute bronchitis then the organism is probably only partially sensitive to amoxycillin .... that's why you had some relief after taking the antibiotic but now the infection is back. 2) The dose of the antibiotic was probably insufficient. The adult dose is 500mg thrice daily for 9 - 11 days. 3) You have not taken the antibiotic regularly thereby giving opportunity for the organism to develop resistance. 4) There may be a new infection. 5) The sore throat and cough may be due to some other reason like reflux disease. Reflux disease can cause both sore throat and dry cough. Only examination can ascertain tehe exact cause for your symptoms. I suggest you see your doctor again. Till then you can do warm salt water gargling 4 times daily and steam inhalation 4 times daily, Do not drink or eat cold foods and avoid using the air conditioner. Regards, Dr Rajkishori Godhi.

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

Follow up: Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (6 hours later)

1.The coughing is not excessive but feels like the organism is moving into that area. 2.The antibiotic is Amoxicillan 500mg. thrice day for 10 days. I was on an antibiotic before this that was for the digestive infection C-dif (which has completely gone away). But the sore thoat, Strep developed at the end of that round of antibiotics. 3. I wrote on the bottle when I started taking it: 8am - 3pm - midnite, & have been taking at those times. I wondered if I may have missed one of those dosages before this came back on me. 4.This may be a new infection but it feels exactly the same as when I started the Amoxicillan. It is different than a typical sore throat though because my tongue is sore too. It feels like little hot needle pricks all over but no white spots like thrush, but it feels kinda like thrush, I think. 5.I don't think this is related to reflux. It feels more like a bug.One thing I would like to know is: the feeling I have on my tongue & throat "like little hot needle pricks all over tongue & back of my throat & even some down into the bronchi area", Is that typical with Strep or Thrush or what type of disease?

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (16 hours later)

Brief Answer: thrush is a possibility Detailed Answer: Hi and very sorry for the delay, Hot needle like pricks in the tongue and the throat can occur in thrush. You have taken a long course of antibiotic so the possibility of thrush is very high. But the pin pricking sensation can occur with other infections as well, it is not typical of thrush. It is possible also that you have developed a new viral infection , viruses do not respond to antibiotics and you can get a viral infecton even while you are on antibiotics. The cough and soreness of the throat and the tongue can be due to this new infection. You should see a doctor because at the end only examination will help us come closer to a diagnosis. Regards, Dr Rajkishori Godhi.

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

Follow up: Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (2 hours later)

Thank you. The sore throat & tongue are seeming to go away However, I just took my last antibiotic so we'll see how it goes tomorrow when I don't have anymore. I am afraid of the super bug they keep talking about that is resistant to antibiotics. It seems like this one is. I will for sure go back to my Dr. He wanted me to recheck my blood at the end of the antibiotics anyway. Thanks for your help.

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (12 hours later)

Brief Answer: not super bug Detailed Answer: Hello, Good to know that you are getting better. If you indeed had the super bug, you would not have responded to amoxycillin in the first place, so relax, its not the super bug. Blood investigations will tell us if the infection has been cleared. Regards, Dr Rajkishori Godhi.

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