Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Chronic cough and geographic tongue after tonsillitis

About 2 years ago I had tonsillitis which caused trouble swallowing, a painful throat, heavy coughing and a little fever. My GP prescribed multiple courses of amoxicillin clavulanate and ciprofloxacin, because it would come back again and again after I finished the antibiotic course. They recommended that my tonsils be removed. I didn’t agree to this surgery since they had done only basic tests to find the cause for the tonsillitis. Also, I have never had problems with my tonsils before. When I was abroad, my tonsils were again badly inflamed. In the hospital they prescribed me an interferon inducer. Since then my tonsils have been fine.

However, some weeks after the tonsillitis cleared, I got geographic tongue and a chronic dry cough. Both have now lasted for many months. Meanwhile I was prescribed another amoxicillin clavulanate course, multiple fluconazole courses for my tongue and multiple courses valaciclovir, umifenovir and codeine for the chronic coughing.

Nothing seems to help to get rid of the chronic coughing and geographic tongue for good. Fluconazole and umifenovir do work while I take it, but after the course I start coughing again and the geographic tongue comes back. I think the latter is connected to the cause for the chronic coughing, since I noticed my tongue clears within a few days after the coughing stops. Besides having white/red patches, my tongue also sometimes hurts and there were ulcers under my tongue and in my throat. The constant coughing causes trouble sleeping and malaise.

Before all of this I was a healthy person, never had tonsillitis nor a geographic tongue nor a chronic cough. My CRP and ESR levels have been fine all the time (even during the tonsillitis). Other blood tests were all fine as well. They did multiple swab tests (candida and some viral test they said), all negative. Chest x-ray was negative as well.

I feel the doctors have done little effort to find the root cause for all of this and to find the right treatment. Right now I still have a chronic dry cough and geographic tongue which hurts. The doctors said I should just keep taking codeine pills and that the geographic tongue is just something I will have to live with.

What could this be? What other tests could they do to find the root cause for the tonsillitis/chronic coughing? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

0 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ear, Nose & Throat Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
Discover the common causes of and treatments for a sore throat.
Learn about what actually causes your temperature to spike.
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
Family medicine doctor Enoch Choi, MD helps differentiate between the common cold and more threatening (bacterial) infections
Dr. Steven Park reveals 5 reasons why breathing through your nose could change your life