Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 8/18/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Marc Rubin

i have problem of allergic rhinitis, postnasal drip, now from seven days i have problem of chest infection, my doctor who is pulmonologist checked my chest and prescribed me Levofloxacin
250 mg twice in a day, in my chest i feel very hard and thick mucus difficult to expel which colour is green and gery in morning, my doctor said that i have no asthma, pls help me.

Regards
Zafar Iqbal

ANSWER: Hello Zafar,

It sounds as if the correct diagnosis is bronchitis, an infection in the airways. Symptoms may mimic asthma. With the description of the mucus, as well as the inferred diagnosis by the pulmonologist, it is bacterial in origin. If this is an annual even, it is then reclassified as chronic bronchitis, and further episodes will need to be addressed more quickly.

If you are coughing or wheezing, albuterol, the same medication used in asthma and COPD works best, as cough suppressants seem to have little effect here. This is due to the tissue swelling caused by the infection.

Should my evaluation prove correct, bronchitis can take weeks to fully resolve, so you'll need to be patient, and drink plenty of fluids to keep the mucus thinner. Get plenty of rest, and eat well to maintain you nutrition.

Take care!

Sincerely,

Marc



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Marc Rubin

as you mentioned above this statement that "If this is an annual even, it is then reclassified as chronic bronchitis, and further episodes will need to be addressed more quickly" i just want to tell you i also suffered from chest infection last year in the month of september, it's means it is chronic bronchitis? while i have no cogh, but cough up  grey/green mucus in morning when i wake up.

thanks
zafar iqbal

Answer
Zafar,

Your welcome.  Confer with your physician to verify that this is probably the case, and tell him you would like now to be pro-active in an attempt to reduce the recurrence and severity. It may be appropriate to start a steroid inhaler in July, and take through October to keep your lungs from flaring up at that time of year.

Wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Marc