Cough – Hello Doctor

How to treat a post-nasal drip.

March 19th, 2020 by Content Editor

Post-nasal drip happens when your sinuses produce excess mucus discharge that runs down the back of your throat.

Every day, glands in the linings of your nose, throat, airways, stomach, and intestinal tract produce mucus. The glands in your nose and throat produce mucus in order to moisten your nasal membranes and fight off infection.

Post-nasal drip can happen for a number of reasons, which include allergies, viral infections (including the common cold), sinus infections, irritants in the air (like fumes or dust), certain weather conditions (especially cold, dry air) and spicy foods.

Less common causes include something stuck inside the nose (more common in small children), pregnancy and as a side effect of certain medications.

When too much mucus builds up, post-nasal drip develops. Symptoms include :

A sensation of liquid dripping from the back of your nose and into your throat.
A cough that tends to worsen at night and/or when you’re lying down.
Sore throat or hoarse voice.
Tickling, scratchy, or itchy sensation at the back of your throat.

What can you do about it?

Treatment depends on the cause.
Antibiotics can clear up a bacterial infection.
Antihistamines and decongestants can help with postnasal drip caused by sinusitis and viral infections.
Although antihistamines can help, these can cause some mucus to thicken.

Always consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medication for post-nasal drip. Side effects range from dizziness to dry mouth.

Other methods you can try:

Use saline nasal sprays to flush mucus, bacteria, allergens, and other irritating things out of the sinuses.
Use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Dry air can worsen postnasal drip symptoms
Thin your mucus. Thick mucus is stickier and more likely to bother you, so keeping it thin helps prevent blockages in the ears and sinuses. A simple way to do this is to drink more water.
Avoid cigarette smoke. Chemicals in cigarettes can irritate your nasal passages, causing an increase in mucus production
Gargle with warm salt water. Gargling may help to clear mucus from the back of the throat and soothe a sore throat.

Call your doctor if:

You have new symptoms, or your symptoms are worsening.
You have trouble breathing because you’re congested.
You have a fever or other signs of an infection

While post-nasal drip is sometimes temporary, if you experience symptoms regularly, be sure to talk with your doctor to determine the underlying cause.

References:

How does your doctor diagnose and treat TB?

March 19th, 2020 by Content Editor

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that spreads from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they spread the TB germs into the air. Inhaling only a few of these germs can cause an infection in another person.

Having a strong and healthy immune system can prevent you from becoming sick.

There are two types of TB:

1. Latent TB: Also called inactive TB. This isn’t contagious. The bacteria remains in your body in an inactive state and causes no symptoms. Treatment is important if you have latent TB to help control the spread of the disease, as it can turn into active TB.

2. Active TB: This type makes you sick, and in most cases can spread to others. It can develop either in the first few weeks after being infected with the TB bacteria, or many years later.

Signs and symptoms of active TB include:

A cough that lasts three or more weeks
Coughing up blood
Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue
Fever
Night sweats
Chills
Loss of appetite

TB can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When it develops outside your lungs, signs and symptoms differ according to the organs involved.

For instance, TB of the spine may give you back pain, and TB in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.

Tests used to screen for TB:

There’s no single test that can be used to test for TB in all circumstances.

1. A chest X-ray (best used to screen for active TB) is taken to look for changes in the lungs that could show signs of active TB or scars from a previous TB infection.

2. A tuberculin skin test is done by injecting a solution containing a protein made from tuberculosis bacteria just under the top layer of skin on the forearm. If after 48-72 hours the skin at the injection site develops a raised red bump, it indicates that you may be infected with TB.

If a skin test is positive, doctors will consider your risk factors and order additional testing to determine the best course of treatment. For this reason, doctors don’t rely on the skin test alone to confirm a diagnosis.

3. Blood tests may be ordered on their own or after a positive skin test. The different blood tests offer ways to measure the body’s immune response to the presence of bacteria.

4. Imaging tests

If you’ve had a positive skin test, your doctor will likely order a chest X-ray or a CT scan. This may show changes in your lungs caused by active tuberculosis. CT scans provide more-detailed images than X-rays do.

5. Sputum tests

If your chest X-ray shows signs of TB, your doctor may take samples of the mucus that comes up when you cough. The samples are tested for TB bacteria.

Sputum samples can also be used to test for drug-resistant strains of TB. This helps your doctor choose the medications that are most likely to work. These tests can take four to eight weeks to be completed.

Treatment

TB treatment takes much longer than treating other types of bacterial infections.

For active tuberculosis, you must take antibiotics for at least six to nine months. The types of medications and duration of treatment will depend on your age, health, possible drug resistance and the infection’s location in the body.

Preparing for your appointment

If you suspect that you have TB, see a doctor. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance. In addition,

Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing
Write down key personal information; include any recent life changes or international travel.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What’s the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Do I need any tests?
What treatments are available? Which do you recommend?
What if the treatment doesn’t work?
How long do I have to stay on the treatment?
How often do I need to follow up with you?
I have other health problems. How can I manage these conditions together?

References:

How does cold medication work?

March 19th, 2020 by Content Editor

A cold is a viral infection that affects the nose, ears and throat. It has symptoms that generally resolve within ten days.

Cold medications don’t “cure” or shorten your cold, but they can ease some symptoms. In most cases, getting plenty of rest and keeping fluids up can do the trick on their own.

Let’s look at commonly used cold remedies. There are a number of over-the-counter medicines that might help relieve symptoms, they include:

Decongestants and saline nasal sprays

Nasal decongestants and saline (salt water) nasal sprays can help relieve a blocked nose. When it comes to decongestants, you can use drops or sprays for up to five days. Prolonged use can cause rebound symptoms. Before using a decongestant, check with your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe for you.

Expectorants: Help loosen mucus so you can cough it up.

Pain relievers: Ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains.

Combination ‘cough and cold’ medicines: These are a combination of the above. Cough and cold medicines often contain paracetamol. Be sure to check the label to avoid overdosing and taking other medicines that may contain paracetamol too.

Complementary medicines: Some may find vitamins (like vitamin C), mineral supplements (like zinc) or herbal medicines (like echinacea) helpful. However, there isn’t enough evidence to show they’re effective in helping to treat or prevent colds.

Antiviral medications

If you’re likely to suffer complications, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication. These medicines won’t cure your cold, but if they are taken within 48 hours of symptoms they can help:

Reduce the length of time you are ill by around 1 day
Relieve some of the symptoms
Reduce the potential for serious complications
Stop the virus from multiplying in your body.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics won’t help the symptoms of a cold or stop them from spreading to other people. This is because they are viral infections. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections.

Read and follow the directions on medication labels carefully. If you’re not sure about something check with your doctor or pharmacist.

References:

Coronavirus – how to stay calm and clean

March 12th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Where and when did it all begin?

On the 31^st of December 2019, China alerted the World Health Organisation to several patients with flu-like symptoms in a city called Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province. Initial assessments of these patients ruled out “known” flu-like viruses including bird flu, seasonal flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Once these initial patients were assessed, they were placed into quarantine. The suspected source of the outbreak was identified as a busy seafood market in the city the following day. Days later Chinese authorities identified the virus, called Coronavirus, a family of viruses including the common cold, SARS and MERS. The new virus was named 2019-nCoV.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses were first discovered in the 1960s and their name comes from their crown or halo-like shape. Their danger lies in their ability to adapt. This means they can easily spread between and infect different species. While some coronaviruses can cause the common cold, others can develop into more serious illnesses that lead to difficulty breathing, pneumonia and death.

Where did it come from?

Scientists have confirmed that the Coronavirus, like around 70% of new human pathogens, was transmitted from an animal. Genetic analyses have come up short of pinpointing the culprit so far, but among the prime suspects is the pangolin, a long-snouted, ant-eating mammal virtually unknown in the West but widely prized in China as a delicacy and for its purported medicinal virtues. In February 2020, China placed a ban on trading and eating several different types of wildlife, including pangolin.

Spreading like wildfire

As a respiratory virus, Coronavirus is spread primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the infected person’s nose.

By mid-March, 2020, the virus had touched every continent, with more than 126,000 confirmed cases, and a total of 4,600 deaths. On 5^th March, the first South African case was confirmed in a resident of Kwa Zulu Natal who had recently travelled to Italy. (For live updates and virus tracking, visit https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6)

Who is at risk?

Those most at risk of contracting the Coronavirus include those who have existing heart or lung diseases, people with weakened immune systems (e.g. HIV, TB, diabetes or cancer), infants, and older adults.

What are the symptoms?

Patients who have contracted the virus have experienced fever, shortness of breath and coughing. The virus can also cause bronchitis and pneumonia, an infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs and can cause them to fill with fluid.

The incubation period for a virus is the time between catching the virus and showing symptoms of the disease. For Coronavirus, health officials estimate an incubation period of between one and 14 days. Most people start showing symptoms about five days after becoming infected.

What you can do to protect yourself

Most importantly: DON’T PANIC. Your best defence in preventing Coronavirus is a strong immune system. One of the biggest factors impacting immunity is stress, so the less time you spend worrying about contracting the virus and the more time you spend proactively staying healthy, the better your immunity becomes.

The media is abuzz with reporting new cases as they appear around the world. One aspect of Coronavirus seldom reported is the recovery rate. Of the 96,000 plus people who have contracted the virus, more than 55,000 have recovered.

To protect yourself and your family, follow these rules:

Wash your hands often, using the proper technique. If you only do 1 thing, make it this. Always use soap and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you wash and rub the entire hand surface, including the back of your hands.
Keep your distance. Aim to keep at least 1 metre between yourself and someone who is coughing or sneezing.
Fist pump don’t shake. Fist bumps transfer only about 10% of the number of germs that handshakes do (out of interest, high 5’s transfer around 50%)
Avoid touching your face. The average person touches their face around 23 times per hour. Germs on your hands are easily transferred into your body via the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. Keep your hands busy by holding a pencil, or a stress ball
Practise respiratory hygiene. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing
Seek medical care early. Stay at home if you feel unwell, even if your symptoms are mild. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, reach out to Hello Doctor immediately and speak to our doctors anytime (24/7) about your own personal concerns, what you should do and where you can be tested if need be.

Social media is flooded with stories and images about the virus, many of which are not true. In the case of Coronavirus, knowledge is power. Limit your worry and anxiety by limiting your, and your family’s exposure to media coverage that you perceive to be upsetting. Stay informed about developments using reliable and reputable sites and channels only.

Busting a few myths about Coronavirus

Coronavirus cannot be transmitted through goods manufactured in China or any other country reporting cases
Having a hot bath will not prevent you from catching Coronavirus. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.
To date, there has been no evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.
Hand dryers are not effective in killing the virus
Spraying alcohol all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. There is also no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline can offer protection from coronavirus
Existing vaccines against pneumonia do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. Since the virus is so new and different, it needs its own vaccine
While garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties, there is no evidence it can prevent infection from Coronavirus
Antibiotics are powerless against Coronavirus since they are effective only against bacteria.

Should I be taking these meds?

October 30th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s often easy and convenient to look up any topic in this day and age, but when it comes to your health, how do you know what information you can trust? Self-diagnosis can be dangerous, which is why Hello Doctor is here to help walk your through your symptoms. You might wonder whether or not you need a prescription medication for your condition, but how would you know?

So do you really need that medication? Let’s take a look.

Continue reading “Should I be taking these meds?”

I am coughing – What do I do?

May 30th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Battling with a lingering cough that’s giving you sleepless nights and disturbing your work colleagues? Continue reading “I am coughing – What do I do?”