Can't get rid of cough

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Martin Lynch - 19 Feb 2004 00:58 GMT

Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
that will last for 4 months.

My throat does not hurt, I have no other symptoms of sickness
(no headache, no stomache ache, etc.).

The doctor at my university hospital did a checkup, then
prescribed me antibiotics last year. I was skeptical,
since I had a feeling this was not viral but I took the
full cycle anyways. It did not help. I simply waited
until the cough went away during the springtime.

This year, same thing... and again the doctor prescribes
antibiotics. I have not taken them, and will not.

Can someone suggest what the possible causes of this
cough can be, so I can make suggestions and be more
knowledgeable when I see another doctor?

I live in Michigan (to give you an idea of the winter climate).

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Carey Gregory - 19 Feb 2004 02:09 GMT

>Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
>that will last for 4 months.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>I live in Michigan (to give you an idea of the winter climate).

You didn't give us many details (age, smoker, etc), but I'm prone to agree
with your skepticism about the antibiotics. (For future reference,
antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections, not viral.)

Does taking a hot shower seems to help the cough? Does it bother you more
at home than when outside? If so, then dry indoor air is one possible
culprit. You might try installing a humidifier. Or just find another
doctor and get a second opinion.

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Martin Lynch - 20 Feb 2004 04:37 GMT

sorry i was in a rush and didnt quiet tell the whole story.

i am 24. i do not take any medications. i do not smoke.

i get the cough while indoors and outdoors.

sitting in a steam room does seem to help temporarily, but i didnt
think this necessarily indicated that dry air is the cause.

also, i have tried an inhaler, and also have tried allergy medicine (i
think albuterol and allegra)... but neither helped.

i also notice that the cough seems to develop when i get my first cold
or flu in the winter, then while all the other symptoms of sickness go
away, the cough remains for another 4 or 5 months.

i also think i first developed this after getting pretty sick 4 years
ago. since then, the same cough comes back every winter.

could it be some sort of infection that i've had for 4 years straight,
but just gets more prominent under winter conditions? could it be
irreparable respiratory damage that makes my lungs irritable to
non-viral/bacterial stimuli?

if it's caused by an infection, is a doctor capable of identifying
what specific strain of bacteria or virus is causing it so he can kill
it efficiently, or will he have to prescribe general antibiotics
AGAIN. what works to kill a virus anyways?

anymore brainstorming or suggestions would be much appreciated.

thanks

> >Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
> >that will last for 4 months.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> culprit. You might try installing a humidifier. Or just find another
> doctor and get a second opinion.

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anon - 20 Feb 2004 14:28 GMT

> sitting in a steam room does seem to help temporarily, but i didnt
> think this necessarily indicated that dry air is the cause.

No? Why not? Dry air is definitely a bronchial irritant. How much it
bothers a person is subject to individual variability.

> also, i have tried an inhaler, and also have tried allergy medicine (i
> think albuterol and allegra)... but neither helped.

When you say "tried" I have to assume you mean "exactly as directed for
long enough for a clinical effect to be percieved", which should've
been at least for several days.

> i also notice that the cough seems to develop when i get my first cold
> or flu in the winter, then while all the other symptoms of sickness go
> away, the cough remains for another 4 or 5 months.

Cough is almost always the last symptom of a viral URI to resolve. 4-5
months of coughing suggests either back-to-back colds (not unheard of)
or something else going on (more likely).

> i also think i first developed this after getting pretty sick 4 years
> ago. since then, the same cough comes back every winter.

Honestly, what you've described sounds most like cough-variant asthma.
See your doctor.

> could it be some sort of infection that i've had for 4 years straight,

No.

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Kevin Michael Vail - 19 Feb 2004 02:22 GMT

> Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
> that will last for 4 months.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> I live in Michigan (to give you an idea of the winter climate).

This seems far too obvious to be something you haven't considered, but
just in case...is it possible it has something to do with the low
humidity in the winter months? Do you use a humidifier, especially in
the room you sleep in?

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Ron Peterson - 19 Feb 2004 17:36 GMT

> Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
> that will last for 4 months.

> My throat does not hurt, I have no other symptoms of sickness
> (no headache, no stomache ache, etc.).

> The doctor at my university hospital did a checkup, then
> prescribed me antibiotics last year. I was skeptical,
> since I had a feeling this was not viral but I took the
> full cycle anyways. It did not help. I simply waited
> until the cough went away during the springtime.

> This year, same thing... and again the doctor prescribes
> antibiotics. I have not taken them, and will not.

> Can someone suggest what the possible causes of this
> cough can be, so I can make suggestions and be more
> knowledgeable when I see another doctor?

> I live in Michigan (to give you an idea of the winter climate).

An ACE inhibitor for hypertension can cause a cough which might be
alleviated by substituting an Angiotensin II blocker.

You might look to see if there is too much air pollution or the
possibility of an low-grade infection of some kind.

Signature

Ron

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PF Riley - 20 Feb 2004 03:23 GMT

>Every winter for the past 4 years, I get a dry cough (no mucus)
>that will last for 4 months.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>I live in Michigan (to give you an idea of the winter climate).

Without knowing your medical history, without having the benefit of
examining you, without knowing more details about the cough, and
without even knowing your age or whether you smoke or not, I would
still safely guess that a trial of inhaled fluticasone would be
worthwhile.

PF

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anon - 22 Feb 2004 15:19 GMT

>> Can someone suggest what the possible causes of this
>> cough can be, so I can make suggestions and be more
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> PF

Oh, PF...you hypocrite. Dispensing medical advice without an extensive
history and physical to back up your opinions. Take your own advice, my
friend, or get off my back.

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iankenneth - 20 Feb 2004 04:30 GMT

Can you describe the environment you are in, every winter?

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