I have chronic cough that aggravates while lying. Please help.

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a cough that lasts for more than a month now. This usually occurs during night time while lying and sometimes at dawn. At first, it was a dry cough then it turns into a wet cough. I do not spit yellow or green phlegm it is all sticky white mucus. I do not have any history of asthma and this is the first time I experience this. I did not experience fever, pain in my stomach, and inclusion body myositis (IBM). I have already taken Azithromycin for three days and Ambroxyl but still no relief. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand how troublesome it is if it is disturbing your sleep. These cough episodes you are having are mostly due to hyperactive airways. I would advise you certain investigations mentioned below. Also, I would like to know, if you get a cough after exposure to dust, pollens, or pets? Do let me know anything that might cause the worsening of your symptoms. Secondly, do you have heartburn or on and off cold? The probable cause is bronchial asthma and allergic bronchitis. The investigations to be done are spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility testing, X-ray chest, and blood counts with absolute eosinophil count. The differential diagnosis is bronchial asthma, and allergic bronchitis. The probable diagnosis is Bronchial asthma, and allergic bronchitis. The treatment plan include Inhaler (Formoterol 6 mcg + Budesonide 200 mcg) with spacer 2 puffs twice daily and can be taken up to four times daily if required and once exacerbation is over it can be tapered off for a month, tablet Fexofenadine 120 mg once a day for a month. Rest continue previous treatment. The preventive measure is to avoid exposure to allergens. PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate) monitoring. Follow up to be done with investigation reports.