Coughing for 4 months

[emailnatenow]

My girlfriend went to the countryside in Mongolia almost 4 months ago. She developed a dry cough while she was there and thought it was because of all the dust. However, the cough persisted and no antibiotics or allergy medicines that doctors prescribed her have done anything. Letting her voice rest and taking daily vitamins seem to help a suppress the cough a bit, but it will never completely go away. What can/should she do? She does not drink very much water; is that not helping her cause?
  Thank you very much.
Nate

[arzuwish]

my wife has asthma and after 2 chest infections she has had 400 steroids and various antibiotics. she is still coughing in prolonged severe spells both day and night. her only respite is with codeine linctus taken before she goes to bed. she sometimes has a couple of hours sleep. she has had an x-ray which is clear apart from TB scars from over 50 years ago. we are awaiting the results of a recent c.t.scan. what can she take until bed time and what are they looking for with the scan? she is 72 and has been coughing for almost 5 months. arzuwish

[Enoch Choi, MD]

chronic cough following infection (viral or bacterial) is common.  it could be completely normal, but her doctor should be doing more for her.  such as inhaled steroids, chest xray, tb testing, induced sputum, other tests.  it could also be from pertussis.