Are dry cough with early morning white sputum signs of post-COVID syndrome?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having an on and off dry cough for more than a month. The cough does not happen continuously. I also notice white sputum immediately after waking up for few months. I had pneumonia twice three years ago. I was positive for COVID one year ago and recovered with medicine. I am living with my husband, who is under treatment for bone TB for five months. These are some queries that I have in this regard. 1) What can be the reason for dry cough? 2) Why do I have sputum every morning? 3) What tests should be done for diagnosis? 4) Will you suggest any medicine in this case 5) Is there any chance of having TB or any other disease? I am looking forward to your reply. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the query. According to your statement, you have been suffering from dry cough for the last month and having white sputum after waking up every morning. Dry cough may result from allergies, asthma, environmental irritants like smoke, pollen, dust, mold, or pollution, postnasal drip, bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and many more. Sputum can gather in your lungs or throat while you take sleep at night. This sputum may break up after you wake up in the morning and may aggravate the coughing reflex. Having sputum every morning may result from asthma, postnasal drip, bronchitis, GERD, etc. I suggest you do a CT (computed tomography) scan of the chest, spirometry, endoscopy, and skin prick test to determine the exact underlying causes of your present sufferings and then treat them accordingly. In the meantime, I recommend you to take antihistamines like Cetirizine, Levosalbutamol, or Montelukast. As your husband is under treatment for bone tuberculosis (TB) for five months, you should know that usually, bone TB is not contagious. As your husband has already completed his five months of tuberculosis treatment, there is no chance of being infected. Take care.