Do Azithromycin and Ibuprofen treat fever and cough?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 20 years old, 5 feet 7 inches, and weigh 170 lb. Two weeks ago I started to feel a sore throat and a cough, but I started to recover and my symptoms went away. After two days when I woke up with a sudden fever of 39°C, chills, body aches, increased severe cough, phlegm in my throat, and headache. Why would my doctor prescribe Azithromycin antibiotics if these are virus symptoms? Two days after taking the medicine, I developed a runny nose too and my temperature fluctuated up and down because of Ibuprofen, with the rest of the symptoms remaining the same. I did not want to take ibuprofen but my temperature and symptoms were causing severe aches. What can I do? Should I take different medicine? I have no allergies but I just have a habit of staying sick for a while when I do get sick and I am tired of it.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern. Most upper respiratory tract infections can be from viral infection. But your symptoms not improving and continuous fever is present, hence this can be a secondary bacterial infection and so antibiotics are started. You need to consult a nearby pulmonologist or physician for the following workup

1. Auscultation.

2. Physical examination including looking for the color of the sclera, and lymph node palpation.

3. CBC (complete blood count).

4. Throat swab or ASO (Antistreptolysin O) titer.

5. Chest x-ray if needed.

If no improvement from azithromycin then according to the culture report antibiotic is prescribed. As you have a fever, cough both bronchitis and pneumonia can be a possibility so if auscultation is suspicious then better to do a chest x-ray. Steam inhalation can be done three times a day. Take one tsp turmeric powder with honey and milk daily. If excess mucus production then Ambroxol (Ambroxol hydrochloride) containing syrup can be prescribed. Avoid excess spicy foods. I hope I have cleared all your doubts.

Thank you.