The Cough That Won?t Leave You Alone
It has been going through schools, work places and homes. It is the lingering cough that is lasting for weeks and weeks.
KRDO Newschannel 13 sought the help of Dr. John Torres of Premier Urgent Care.
Torres said the cough is not due to pertussis (whooping cough) or pneumonia, instead it originates from the common cold.
?What happens is it sensitizes the lungs so even though the illness has gone away, the infection has gone away, your lungs still need time to recover, so you get this continual cough,? said Torres.
Torres explained that the illness is viral, which means there is no antibiotic that will cure the cough.
?Unfortunately with this, there is no magic pill that will make this go away. Your body needs to recover. Time will help the most,? said Torres.
Torres recommends drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest. He also said using a humidifier in your home and treating your symptoms with over-the-counter cough medications and lozenges can help.
?Sometimes it lasts up to three months, and it?s not the thing the people want to hear, but they do eventually get better,? said Torres.
If those suffering from the persistent cough begin to develop a fever or mucus that is green or yellow in color, then Torres recommends going and seeking medical advice, as that could indicate a more serious illness.
