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How Can Persistent Cough Be Treated?
After a head and chest virus of some sort that has been going around...lasted for me about 6 weeks...I am left with a persistent croupy cough but no other symptoms. Cough syrup and cough drops do not help in a meaningful way. I am a 67 year old female in good health, still working. Regularly take lisinopril (successfully), ranitidine and hydrochlorothiazide. What can I do for this cough? Thank you for any help.
Fri, 17 Mar 2017
Hello,
Thanks for trusting healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your short description and I can understand your concerns.
As per your description you are having persistent cough for six weeks,it is quite long and thus need to evaluated thoroughly.
I suggest you to consult a general physician and get the following things done:-
1.A chest X-ray to rule out any lung conditions like mass lesions or pneumonia.
2.A sputum examination to rule out tuberculosis,very important in asian countries like India.
3.A short course of antibiotics like levofloxacin can be tried empirically.
4.Antihistamines like levocetrezine would provide symptomatic relief especially in allergic cough.
5.You can use expectorant cough syrup which might help to clear the secretions.
6.If you have breathing difficulty,nebulization with bronchodialator drugs may be needed.
Additional investigations like CT scan may be required depending upon the initial evaluation as advised by your physician.
In some cases no cause can be found out and in that case it might be due to allergic cough or hyper responsive airway.
As of now you can try the following preventive measures.
1.Quit smoking and avoid second hand smoke.
2.Avoid exposure to pollen and dust mite.
3.Keep your indoors humidified.
4.Drink plenty of water and healthy diet.
Hope I have answered your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr.Shinas Hussain
Thanks for trusting healthcaremagic!
I have gone through your short description and I can understand your concerns.
As per your description you are having persistent cough for six weeks,it is quite long and thus need to evaluated thoroughly.
I suggest you to consult a general physician and get the following things done:-
1.A chest X-ray to rule out any lung conditions like mass lesions or pneumonia.
2.A sputum examination to rule out tuberculosis,very important in asian countries like India.
3.A short course of antibiotics like levofloxacin can be tried empirically.
4.Antihistamines like levocetrezine would provide symptomatic relief especially in allergic cough.
5.You can use expectorant cough syrup which might help to clear the secretions.
6.If you have breathing difficulty,nebulization with bronchodialator drugs may be needed.
Additional investigations like CT scan may be required depending upon the initial evaluation as advised by your physician.
In some cases no cause can be found out and in that case it might be due to allergic cough or hyper responsive airway.
As of now you can try the following preventive measures.
1.Quit smoking and avoid second hand smoke.
2.Avoid exposure to pollen and dust mite.
3.Keep your indoors humidified.
4.Drink plenty of water and healthy diet.
Hope I have answered your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr.Shinas Hussain
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