I have cold, cough and chest pain. What can I do?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been very cold for weeks. I have a runny nose, my body hurts, I have a cough, and a few days ago I had chest pains that lasted some minutes. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have caught a cold, alright. Is there any fever? Also, is the cough productive? If there is no productive cough and no fever, then you probably have a post-nasal drip associated with the rhinitis, hence a chronic dry cough. It could also be tracheitis, in which case you may need prescription antibiotics if it does not go away or gets worse in a couple of days. The episode of chest pain was probably just from all the straining of the respiratory muscles due to coughing. For now, if you do not have a fever or a purulent cough, just do the following: Steam with menthol inhalation three times a day, and an antihistamine like Cetirizine. If symptoms do not improve in two to three days or worsen, prescription antibiotics may be needed for possible tracheobronchitis. I suggest you take Paracetamol for body ache - just one tablet once or twice daily. I hope this helps. Thank you and take care. Regards.