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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can A Upper Chest Congestion Indicate Asthma?

For 4 weeks, I have had persistent low-grade fever (up to 2° higher than my normal) and cough with upper chest congestion (wheezing on exhale). Have taken Z-pack (5 days), then Levaquin (7days), then Levaquin with Omniceph (7 days) with Prednisone (6 days). Blood work came back normal (and specifically no Valley fever). Did test positive for pneumonia. But after 4 weeks and all that medicine, symptoms persist. Inhalers and ventolin treatment don't seem to make a difference. Yesterday, I started taking Singulair and after first dose, it did actually seem to help - congestion seems less and I simply feel better. If this is asthma (never been Dx'd before with it) or allergies, shouldn't inhalers and prednisone have also made me feel better?
posted on Sat, 15 Mar 2014
Twitter Thu, 17 Apr 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 21 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
HI,
your symptoms refers toward respiratory tract infection with superimposed allergic reactions, expiratory wheezing is due to bronchitis causing both inflammation and bronchospasm. although you were taking correct combination but they were not quite effective because of the superimposed inflammation of the tract, with all these drug you were missing an antihistaminic or leukotrene antagonist or mast cell stabiliser.
for the next 2 weeks you should go with ventolin inhaler, levocetrizine, montelukast , cough expectorant and you should gargle with glycoseptol twice a day. you can get a X ray chest , TLC, DLC, ESR, Hb and Pulmonary function test and salbutamol responsive PEFR estimation to come to the diagnosis for future prevention and management.
take care.
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Can A Upper Chest Congestion Indicate Asthma?

HI, your symptoms refers toward respiratory tract infection with superimposed allergic reactions, expiratory wheezing is due to bronchitis causing both inflammation and bronchospasm. although you were taking correct combination but they were not quite effective because of the superimposed inflammation of the tract, with all these drug you were missing an antihistaminic or leukotrene antagonist or mast cell stabiliser. for the next 2 weeks you should go with ventolin inhaler, levocetrizine, montelukast , cough expectorant and you should gargle with glycoseptol twice a day. you can get a X ray chest , TLC, DLC, ESR, Hb and Pulmonary function test and salbutamol responsive PEFR estimation to come to the diagnosis for future prevention and management. take care.