Cough is one of the most common complaints in a doctor’s office. Sore throat is probably the most common.
Doctors need to know why you have a cough to begin with. You could have Asthma, or Pneumonia, the common cold, or even some nasal drainage that is going down your throat.
Coughing is a symptom of Bronchitis which is self limiting, and can last up to three weeks. Color of sputum doesn’t help doctors determine if it is truly viral or bacterial.
If you don’t have fever, or a fast heart rate, and a fast breathing rate, then you probably have just bronchitis, and not a pneumonia. Sometimes a cough is the only symptom of older adults with pneumonia.
Bronchitis most of the time is caused by a virus, and rarely needs to be tested for, unless you are high risk for pneumonia, such as older than 65, history of smoking, asthmatic, HIV positive, etc.
Doctors can treat bronchitis in two ways. Either with antibiotics or with symptom management. The standard of care is symptomatic treatment in the younger patient, unless Pertussis is suspected. Pertussis is a “whooping cough” and should be covered with the Tdap vaccine booster every 10 years.
Doctors can treat your symptoms with either over the counter or prescription strength nasal decongestants, expectorants, corticosteroids, cough suppressants and bronchodilators.
The AAP, Association of American Pediatrics recommends against cough suppressants in children younger than 6.
Some complementary medications include Echinacea, honey, and pelargonium. Pelargonium, i.e., Kalwerbossie, a South African geranium, or folk remedy rabassam have modest benefit for bronchitis.
I tell a lot of patient’s who have over 4 days of symptoms that antibiotics can do no harm, and might lessen length of symptoms.
A Zithromax Pack, some steroid dose pack, and cough suppressants usually can lessen symptoms faster than over the counter symptom treatment.
Regardless of how doctors treat this, if you feel bad, then you should see your doctor. That is what we are here for.
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