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I am a smoker and have been coughing for longer period. Will it be chronic bronchitis?

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Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am 23 years female. For about three years or so, I have been coughing up phlegm consistently. It has almost become a routine. When I consulted an (ear nose and throat) ENT doctor, they did not see anything wrong and just said that my nostrils look little swollen, so he prescribed me Flonase. I am still coughing and spitting. The color of the phlegm is generally white, but sometimes it is slightly yellow. I need to know, should I consult a pulmonologist? I fear that I may have chronic bronchitis since I have been smoking from the age of 15.

Answered by Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. You said that you smoke since, from the age of 15, so the diagnosis goes more in favor of chronic bronchitis. The symptoms are also typical of chronic bronchitis. But you have not mentioned any associated allergic symptoms like running nose or frequent sneezing as it suggests bronchial asthma. The best test to differentiate between both is to do a spirometry test, also called PFT (pulmonary function test). It will give a definitive final diagnosis. Regarding treatment, if it is bronchitis, the first and most important thing is to quit smoking. If it is asthma, then you need to take a controller inhaler regularly. Also, you should get done with your chest x-ray. I hope after reading this, you will take the initiative for quitting smoking and quit it ultimately. I hope this helps. The probable cause is smoking. The investigations to be done are chest x-ray PA (posteroanterior) view. Spirometry PFT (pulmonary function test). The differential diagnosis may be COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Treatment plan include stop smoking and start with inhalers.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At October 26, 2019
Reviewed At July 7, 2023

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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