I have chronic cough with breathlessness problem. Please suggest treatment.

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been experiencing a chronic cough and it has clear-bubbly phlegm and I am so bothered about it because it has been a year since I have it. Sometimes, I vomit especially when my cough is severe and it sometimes makes me breathless. I have been taking antihistamine for it but it has no effect. I am so bothered and worried because it is been a year but still I am not well. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

According to your statement, you have been suffering from a chronic cough for almost a year now that makes you breathless. You did not mention here about your family history, working history, living history, allergic history, smoking history, and the factors that make you breathless sometimes. There is no history of nutritional status, night sweating, or weight loss.

As we know, a chronic persistent cough that occurs most of the days for three months for two successive years is called chronic bronchitis. Again, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) includes chronic bronchitis along with emphysema. So, my probable diagnosis is COPD.

COPD can be confirmed by a reversibility test, as it is irreversible, so FEV1 will be <15% after Salbutamol or steroid trial. You should undergo lung function test that will reveal FEV1/FVC < 0.7%, TLC-increased, RV-increased, CXR, sputum for C/S, blood gas analysis, etc.

By using Salbutamol or anticholinergic inhaler, corticosteroid or oral steroid intake, or occasionally oxygen inhalation, you may control your chronic cough to some extent.

Please inform me about your investigation results as soon as possible.