I'm 55 and I've been having more and more of a cough lately, especially when I'm on the phone or talking to others. I've tried using cough syrup with dextromethorphan hydrobromide and gargling with salt water, but I'm not seeing much improvement. What should I do next?

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Dr Mubarak Parveez B

General Practitioner

MBBS
2+ Yrs

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syrup salbutamol

Dr. Mubarak Suggests...

Consult a Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine Specialist

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Answered 04/07/2025

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Consult a Healthcare Provider
a. Schedule an appointment to evaluate persistent cough.
b. Discuss any additional symptoms or changes in health.
Consider Possible Causes
a. Rule out conditions like GERD, asthma, or infections.
b. Discuss potential environmental or lifestyle factors.
Review Current Medications
a. Ensure no interactions or side effects from current medications.
b. Consider alternative treatments if necessary.
Lifestyle Adjustments
a. Stay hydrated and avoid irritants like smoke.
b. Use a humidifier to ease throat irritation.

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I'm worried that I might have caught TB from a friend who's being treated for it, but I don't have any symptoms yet. I'm trying to figure out which test would be most accurate to detect latent TB. Can the Mantoux test and sputum AFB both find it, or is one better than the other?

The most accurate test for detecting latent TB is the Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), such as QuantiFERON or T-SPOT.TB, which measures the immune response to TB proteins; the Mantoux test (Tuberculin Skin Test) is also used, but it has some limitations, such as cross-reactivity with BCG vaccine and false negatives in immunocompromised individuals; sputum AFB (Acid-Fast Bacillus) smear is used to diagnose active TB, not latent TB, so it's not relevant in your case;

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