[39F] Experiencing moderate productive cough and general malaise

Patient Description

A 39-year-old female presents with a moderate, productive cough described as a 'wet' cough with production deep in the lungs, ongoing for 3 days. The patient reports a burning sensation at the top of the chest and middle of the throat, more pronounced in the throat, alongside changes in voice and a sore throat. Additionally, symptoms include chills, tiredness, lethargy, and light-headedness, particularly noted after lecturing, which also induced a feeling of warmth and exacerbated exhaustion. The patient has a history of Crohn's disease, diagnosed 6 years prior, and iron deficiency anemia. Recently completed a week-long course of prednisone for a Crohn's flare-up and takes Vitamin D2 (1000 IU) daily. The patient is allergic to penicillin. No fever, chest pain, wheezing, or severe difficulty breathing reported, but mentions feeling slightly short of breath and more exhausted than usual after speaking for extended periods.

Arora's Assessment

What might be happening

Based on your symptoms, here are a few possibilities:

Bronchitis: This is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing up thickened mucus and shortness of breath. It's often caused by a viral infection, so antibiotics (which are designed to treat bacteria) often aren't effective.
Pneumonia: This is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
Influenza (Flu): The flu is a common viral infection that can be deadly, especially in high-risk groups. The flu attacks the lungs, nose and throat. Symptoms include a cough, sore throat, and fatigue.
COVID-19: This is a viral infection caused by a new coronavirus introduced to humans for the first time. It is spread from person to person mainly through the droplets produced when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can range from mild (or no symptoms) to severe illness.

What you can do

Rest and hydrate: Make sure you're getting plenty of sleep at night and resting during the day. Drink lots of fluids to keep your throat moist and to thin the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to cough up.
Over-the-counter medication: Over-the-counter cough suppressants can provide temporary relief from a cough.
Humidifier: A cool-mist humidifier or taking a hot shower can provide temporary relief from a sore throat and cough.
COVID-19 Test: Given the ongoing pandemic and overlap of your symptoms with those of COVID-19, it would be prudent to get tested for the virus.

What you should look out for

If your symptoms worsen, you develop a high fever, have difficulty breathing, or your symptoms persist for more than a week, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Please remember that while I strive to provide accurate and helpful health information, this advice is intended to be general in nature, and specific causes may not apply to your situation. Always consult with a healthcare provider for appropriate examinations, treatment, testing, and care recommendations.

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9 mo ago

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[39F] Experiencing moderate productive cough and general malaise

What might be happening

What you can do

What you should look out for

Experiencing symptoms?