question

[newyorkcityguy]

hi,

thanks so much for this service and your help. Here is my situation - I had a cough for a solid week. I had no fever, chills, headache or sore throat. But I was coughing up yellow. I finally went to the Doctor after one week. When he listened to my lungs he said he heard a slight crackle. He put me on a 5 day 750mg Levaquin antibiotic and said it may be pneumonia. He told me to rest.

I finshed the Levaquin on Sat 12/18. Over this past week, the cough is still there. I am still coughing up yellow. I still feel fine, for all intents and purposes. I am out and about. It's just the cough that is really bad. I do not think it overall has gotten any worse - but I feel pretty much on the same level as I did when i went in.

My questions, is this normal? I heard for atypical pneumonia that this is pretty normal and it may take some time for the antibiotics to kill it all. Is it bad I am out and about - even though I overall feel ok? I am also taking Mucinex expectorant - is that ok? When should I expect to feel better?

THANKS a lot.

[National Jewish]

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung.  This is most commonly due to an infection.  Inhaling bacteria or viruses is usually the way pneumonia is spread.  Generally bacterial pneumonia will come on very suddenly while viral pneumonia will develop more slowly.  Symptoms may include cough, chest pain, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sweats, headache, weakness, tiredness, and a general feeling of discomfort and body aches.  It is generally best diagnosed by chest x-ray in addition to a thorough examination.  Treatment is based on the severity of your symptoms and the type of germ causing the infection.  Antibiotics will help a bacterial infection, but will not help a viral or fungal infection.  Over time your body's natural defenses will clear a viral infection.  An antifungal is needed for the uncommon fungal infection.
It is probably fine to be taking an expectorant. You should also be sure you have an adequate water intake.  As long as you feel well enough to be out and about you are safe doing so.  If this does not resolve or continue to get better you should speak to your physician again.  If the mucous changes to a darker yellow or green or if the amount is not decreasing, you should contact your physician who will probably want to order a chest x-ray.  It can take a month or two to feel totally back to normal.  

[starion]

Call the doctor & tell their office your continued symptoms & ask them whether the doc needs you to have a re-check or perhaps a longer prescription of antibiotics.  Generally, yellow mucous is NOT a good thing and signals some underlying viral or bacterial infection.
Starion