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Could I have something other than an allergy?


Sent to Health Experts October 20, 2007 3:35 p.m.

I've had a cough for a month and a half now. No other cold symptoms until a day or two ago when I started some sneezing here and there. I've been given medication for bronchitis (which did nothing), then I went back and got claratin, flonase, and albuterol (again this did nothing); I went back and now I've got allegra, flonase, and albuterol, along with deconamine (this also appears to have no affect on this cough. The doctors I've seen, seem to think it's allergies because my lungs sound clear and in x-ray look clear. I find a hard time believing it's allergies because my husband has now seemed to have caught the cough, and I don't believe allergies are contagious. Is there anything else this might be? I pulled muscles on my sides from coughing and am having a really hard time sleeping because of it, I just really want to get rid of this.

Optional Information:
Female, Age: 25, Hawaii

Already Tried:
z-pack (for bronchitis) cough medicine w/ codeine claratin d allegra flonase albuterol deconamine one other cough suppressant that looked like little bath beads
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $9   
Info Request
October 20, 2007 3:40 p.m. (5 minutes and 24 seconds later)

Is it a dry or wet cough? Do you smoke or have asmtha, or acid reflux? Any fever or other symptoms, such as runny nose, fatigue, headache?

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Reply
Sent October 20, 2007 3:47 p.m. (7 minutes and 5 seconds later)

Wet cough. I stopped smoking a day or two after I started with the cough (Sept 13th). I don't have a history of asthma or acid reflux. I don't have a runny nose or headache either. I've been feeling tired, but that's probably due to exercise and lack of sleep. I hope this helps
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 21, 2007 12:04 a.m. (8 hours and 16 minutes later)
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Since you didn't respond to antibiotics or medications to treat allergies, you may have a lingering viral respiratory infection, such as viral bronchitis or the common cold or influenza, which can last several weeks (and also explain the fact that your husband has the same symptoms). In fact, most respiratory infections are viral, not bacterial, thus antibiotics will do nothing to treat these infections. Medications can be taken to help relieve the symptoms (such as codeine for cough), but the only way to treat the infection is to let it run it's course: drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, eat well, etc.

Other common causes of chronic or ongoing coughs include asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinusitis with postnasal drip, and exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke or pollutants, and acid reflux. All of these things could also exacerbate symptoms of a viral respiratory infection.

I hope this helps!



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It was a pleasure assisting you today! If you've found this answer helpful, please remember to click the ACCEPT button to ensure that I am given credit for my work.
PictureCarter  -- Biologist -- 100% Positive Feedback on 1180 Health Accepts
Expertise in Reproductive/Sexual Health, Psychology, Substance Abuse, General Medicine, Pharmacology
Reply
Sent October 21, 2007 12:53 a.m. (48 minutes and 49 seconds later)

Thank you very much for your response. It helps to know that it will come to an end. I guess I should do better on the eating well and rest, specially since I'm training for a marathon. Once again, thanks.

Very respectfully,

Eve
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Reply
Sent October 21, 2007 12:53 a.m. (26 seconds later)

Thank you very much for your response. It helps to know that it will come to an end. I guess I should do better on the eating well and rest, specially since I'm training for a marathon. Once again, thanks.

Very respectfully,

Eve
Customer (name blocked for privacy)

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