What are the treatments available for cough?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 64-year-old aunt has a terrible cough, but when I tested it with a stethoscope, there was no grumbling sound heard. Then why is there a cough while speaking? She has rheumatoid arthritis but is not on medicine; she is bedridden and cannot move frequently; yet, she goes to the bathroom and moves from one location to another just twice or three times per day; she will be sitting or lying down on the bed frequently. Is there any possibility she will get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Recently she got her blood test done and in her C- reactive protein is 5.29 slightly big according to the reference value, D-Dimer is more than >10, her fasting blood sugar rate is 104, and in complete hemogram, everything is less than the normal value, and the Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is 98.2. But thyroid value is normal in all the aspects like T3, T4, and TSH. What could be the diagnosis and what to be done by the next doctor?

Thank you

Answer 1

Answer

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I just read your query. I can understand your concern.

The cough could be due to allergic reasons also, but as she is bedridden, excessive secretions might be building up, resulting in the formation of a cough. Try to tilt her head giving more pillow support while lying, and also check for her saturation of peripheral oxygen level.

Anti-mucolytic or tablet Acetylcysteine can help her relieve these symptoms.

I hope that you got your answer.

Please let me know if you want some help.

Thank you.

Regards.