Cold and cough

[ZOEmay_ox]

Hi,

Ive had a cough and cold for just over a week now but i cant cope, ive took cough medicine, calpol etc but its still here. its keeping me up everynight and sometimes makes me even gag.
im also so blocked up that i cant even taste food anymore.
A few days ago i had a really sore throat also but that seems to have gone now.
someone please help?

[ZOEmay_ox]

Thank you for your reply, it disappeared for a couple of days but made me cough for a couple of hours in the morning. But its back now with the runny nose, even though it keeps coming and going do you still think it’s a throat infection?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Looks like your symptoms of sore throat and runny nose have progressed with resultant addition of cough and sputum. It could have started as a cold and progressed to a throat infection. This if left untreated could progress to tonsillitis. The commonest pathogen (agent) causing throat infections is a group A Streptococcus bacteria. Besides this Group B Streptococcus, mycoplasma, neisseria and  cornybacterium  are known to cause throat infections. Other known pathogens causing infections of the throat are viral and yeast (candida).  

Strep sore throat needs to be treated with an antibiotic as strep is a bacteria. Viral sore throat is best treated with rest, warm oral fluids and  (OTC) tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen for pain. You will need to consult your primary care physician for a strep test, which if positive you will be given antibiotics.

In the meantime take plenty of warm oral fluids and lots of rest. For further relief from your symptoms you could do warm salt water gargles and stream inhalations. Please ensure to do this prior to your meals.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.