What Does Persistent Non-productive Cough For 6 Weeks Indicate?

Posted on Sun, 16 Oct 2016

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

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 Answered on

Tue, 8 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had a nonproductive cough for about 6 weeks. Treatments for allergies and GERD did not work. Yesterday I had chest x ray which showed a consolidation in the upper right lobe, with possible loss of lung volume. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic, thinking that it is likely pneumonia. How long before the antibiotics should work and I should see improvement? If it is NOT pneumonia, what else could it be? Lung cancer?

Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It may take 48 to 72 hrs for clinical improvement to start.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Acherry,

Thanks for posting your query on HCM.

Generally in pneumonia, some clinical improvement should start within 48 to 72 hrs and radiological improvement may start showing after a week. However complete improvement takes longer-clinical almost more than a week and radiologically even upto 4 weeks.

If there is no improvement even after adequate antibiotics you may have to undergo further investigations like CT Chest and bronchoscopy to know the exact cause of consolidation. It will help us to tell the exact type of organism if it is infection or help in ruling out any obstruction in the airway causing consolidation .

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T