Persistent Cough After Cold: Understanding Allergic Cough and Treatment Options
Persistent cough that does not improve? I have been experiencing a persistent cough since catching a cold last year. I consulted a doctor and took medication, but there has been no improvement (I had an X-ray, and my lungs showed no phlegm or abnormalities). The traditional Chine...
Dr. Zhong Weisheng Reply:
Dear Miss Bao Bei, Thank you for your letter. If a persistent cough lasts for more than three weeks, a chest X-ray and sputum test should be performed to rule out tuberculosis and tumors. Next, it is important to check for the possibility of post-nasal drip or gastroesophageal r...[Read More] Persistent Cough After Cold: Understanding Allergic Cough and Treatment Options
Distinguishing Post-Surgery Lung Scarring from Tuberculosis Calcification
Assessment of Scarring after Thoracotomy and Calcification in Pulmonary Tuberculosis? I was hospitalized six years ago due to a spontaneous pneumothorax in the upper left chest (in 2000). However, due to poor drainage and complications from a pleural fistula surgery, I developed ...
Dr. Li Huixiong Reply:
1. When chest X-rays show calcification, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish whether it is due to surgical changes or residual effects from tuberculosis; detailed medical history inquiry is essential. However, if there is a history of both chest surgery and tuberculosis,...[Read More] Distinguishing Post-Surgery Lung Scarring from Tuberculosis Calcification
Understanding Unpleasant Sneezing: Air Quality vs. Lung Health
Foul-smelling nasal discharge? Hello, in the past year, I have noticed that my husband’s sneezing has a moldy and foul smell. Is this an issue with his lungs or the air quality in our environment? My husband has a smoking habit, and we also have a dog at home. I believe it’s an a...
Dr. Xie Yonghui Reply:
Dear Ms. Jiun, According to your letter, your husband is experiencing halitosis (commonly known as bad breath), which is not directly related to lung issues. Symptoms of lung diseases typically include cough, yellow sputum, and difficulty breathing. Halitosis is generally associ...[Read More] Understanding Unpleasant Sneezing: Air Quality vs. Lung Health
Persistent Fever: Understanding Symptoms and Seeking Proper Diagnosis
Persistent fever Hello Doctor: I have been experiencing frequent fevers over the past few days. I sweat and feel better when lying down, but the fever returns shortly after. Today marks the fourth day. I currently live in Taichung City, and yesterday I visited the family medicine...
Dr. Zhao Chongliang Reply:
Hello! Recurrent fever, joint pain (discomfort in the spine), cough with chest pain, and sputum (even in small amounts) may indicate bacterial pneumonia or atypical pneumonia. Please first visit a general internal medicine or pulmonary medicine department to arrange for a chest X...[Read More] Persistent Fever: Understanding Symptoms and Seeking Proper Diagnosis
Effective Treatments for Bronchiectasis: A Guide for Patients
How to cure bronchiectasis? Hello, Dr. Ke. My father, who is 82 years old, was hospitalized last year due to pneumonia, diagnosed as being caused by bronchiectasis. I would like to ask what more aggressive treatment options could be taken to cure this condition, as he has been pe...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
1. Bronchiectasis is not curable and can only be managed through increased fluid intake, expectoration, and postural drainage to control symptoms. If there is fever, hemoptysis, purulent sputum, or respiratory distress, medical treatment is necessary, typically involving antibiot...[Read More] Effective Treatments for Bronchiectasis: A Guide for Patients
Excessive Phlegm: Causes, Concerns, and When to Seek Help
Excessive phlegm? Hello Doctor: Since last year, I have been experiencing excessive phlegm production. Previously, I would only have this issue when I had a cold, but now I have phlegm almost every day. I can hear a rattling sound in my lungs (accompanied by my breathing). Is thi...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: A cough with excessive phlegm is generally indicative of acute bronchitis. If there are blood-streaked phlegm, it may suggest rupture of microvessels in the bronchi, bacterial infection, or even tuberculosis. It is recommended to visit a pulmonology clinic for a chest X-ra...[Read More] Excessive Phlegm: Causes, Concerns, and When to Seek Help
How to Cough Up Sputum When You Have No Phlegm?
How to cough up phlegm? Hello, doctor. I recently had a chest X-ray (frontal view) taken at a health center, and it was found to show non-cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. I then went to another hospital's pulmonology department for a follow-up examination (posterior view), b...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis requires not only a chest X-ray but also sputum tests and clinical symptoms (such as cough, fever, and weight loss). If there are no symptoms, the changes observed in the X-ray can be monitored without medication, or medication may b...[Read More] How to Cough Up Sputum When You Have No Phlegm?
Persistent Cough: When to Seek Further Medical Evaluation?
I have a persistent cough that won't go away? Dear Vice Dean Zhao, My mother has been coughing for two months now. She has seen several doctors and taken various medications, but she still hasn't improved. It doesn't seem like a common cold. Should we consider go...
Dr. Zhao Chongliang Reply:
If a cough lasts more than three weeks, it is advisable to visit a hospital for a detailed examination. First, it is important to inquire whether the cough is dry or productive, and if productive, whether the sputum is clear, thick, white, yellow, or green, and if it has an odor....[Read More] Persistent Cough: When to Seek Further Medical Evaluation?
When Will Side Effects of Tuberculosis Medication Subside?
When do the side effects of tuberculosis medications subside? I was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in mid-November 1990 after sputum culture results came back positive, while chest X-ray and sputum tests at that time showed no abnormalities. I have been on medication for 2...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Reply to the soldier: You are currently taking four medications for tuberculosis. The most significant side effects include hepatitis, jaundice, and hyperuricemia. If you experience any rash or symptoms of fatigue, it is advisable to stop the medication immediately and go to the ...[Read More] When Will Side Effects of Tuberculosis Medication Subside?
Managing Tuberculosis: Nutrition, Treatment, and Family Safety Tips
Tuberculosis (TB) Hello Doctor, My brother has recently been diagnosed with tuberculosis. His physical condition is poor, he is malnourished, and his immune function is not very good. The medications used to treat tuberculosis have hepatotoxic effects. I would like to know if su...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello Jenny: 1. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis should increase their protein intake (fish, meat, eggs, and dairy are all good options). Supplementing with vitamins can also be beneficial. It is important to avoid alcohol and fried foods, and to regularly monitor liver funct...[Read More] Managing Tuberculosis: Nutrition, Treatment, and Family Safety Tips
Persistent Chest Discomfort: Understanding Causes and Treatment Options
Chest tightness with a strong sensation of obstruction? Hello Dr. Kuo, I have been experiencing long-term discomfort that began after I underwent gynecological surgery in March 1998, during which I had anesthesia and intubation. Following the surgery, I coughed up blood for sev...
Dr. Guo Conghuai Reply:
Hello Miss Green: Based on your description, it seems that you have been troubled for quite a long time. You may be a patient who becomes anxious and has difficulty sleeping over minor issues (Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome). If your lung function indicates that you truly have br...[Read More] Persistent Chest Discomfort: Understanding Causes and Treatment Options
Understanding Pulmonary Lymph Node Calcification and Coughing Concerns
Is there a problem with the lungs? Hello, doctor. 1. Last year, I was hospitalized for observation due to food poisoning. During my hospital stay, the hospital conducted a physical examination. Shortly after my discharge, I received a notification from the hospital stating that...
Dr. Guo Conghuai Reply:
Hello Mr. Alan: The calcification of the hilar lymph nodes is often caused by infections, with the most common in Taiwan being tuberculosis, silicosis, sarcoidosis, or a history of pneumonia in childhood. Typically, this is not a major concern, except for sarcoidosis and tubercul...[Read More] Understanding Pulmonary Lymph Node Calcification and Coughing Concerns
Understanding Serious Lung Issues: What to Expect from Your Diagnosis
Pulmonary issues - urgent My boyfriend started undergoing tests two months ago due to persistent coughing, which began as a dry cough and then progressed to coughing up phlegm, eventually leading to blood-streaked sputum and blood clots. He was diagnosed with bronchitis at Linkou...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Based on Ms. CINDY's description, it is highly likely that your boyfriend has contracted tuberculosis. Therefore, please visit a pulmonologist for a consultation, and undergo a new chest X-ray and detailed examination, or bring copies of the X-ray and sputum test results for...[Read More] Understanding Serious Lung Issues: What to Expect from Your Diagnosis