I have been having episodes of dry cough since 45 days. What might help?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 29-year-old male. For the last 45 days, I have been suffering from episodes of dry cough. 10 days back, I had a 102-degree fever for three days, for which the doctor prescribed Paracetamol and a five-day course of antibiotics. The fever improved, but not the cough. I went to another doctor and got another three-day prescription for antibiotics.

I still cough (on and off ), but almost daily. I do not know if it is normal, but I have a whitish, hard palette and a slightly reddish throat. I had blood work and a chest X-ray, which was normal. I am worried because of this cough and throat-clearing problem.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your query.

You possibly have had a viral infection of the respiratory tract, and the cough can persist for three weeks after the fever subsides.

The white patches usually occur in smokers and are due to persistent inflammation of the throat due to smoking.

Antibiotics are not going to help. I would suggest anti-allergic medicines, preferably a Levocetirizine and Montelukast combination twice daily, and see the response after five days.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Lung cancer is a disease of smokers that presents in patients beyond 50 years of age with weight loss, coughing of blood, and other miserable symptoms. Let me reassure you that it is not lung cancer.

You can do a pulmonary function test to rule out an obstructive lung disease and an X-ray of the chest.

You can start the allergic medicines as suggested.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.