Post-viral prolonged cough a cause for concern, say medical experts

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The spike successful the fig of post-viral prolonged cough cases has emerged arsenic origin for interest successful the State. Medical experts person attributed it to seasonal changes.

According to Dr. A. Fathahudeen, Professor and caput of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine astatine Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, the inclination became evident successful precocious December past year.

“Over the past 2 months, determination has been a dependable emergence successful cases of patients experiencing prolonged cough and abrupt nonaccomplishment of voice. Seasonal viral illnesses causing precocious respiratory tract corruption and cough are rather common. This could beryllium owed to the abrupt alteration successful temperature. Quite unusually, respective cases of prolonged adust cough person travel to our announcement this season,” said Dr. Fathahudeen.

According to him, the inclination whitethorn beryllium owed to a viral infection. “The communal viruses noticed nowadays are the rhino virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and different seasonal viruses. Post-Covid lung issues whitethorn person suppressed the defence capabilities of our lungs,” helium added.

Antibiotics person nary relation successful treating the corruption unless a pulmonologist prescribes them, helium said. “We usually counsel patients to deterioration masks, debar crowds, instrumentality steam inhalation, and support themselves decently hydrated. Patients should portion blistery fluids and springiness capable remainder to voice. The corruption usually subsides wrong 7 to 10 days. If it persists for much than 3 weeks, X-ray and sputum introspection are advised,” Dr. Fathahudeen said.

While hospitals successful Ernakulam person not reported a spike successful viral infections and post-viral cough cases, patients person been seeking attraction for prolonged cough.

Dr. P.T. Anandan, Professor and caput of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, said patients were complaining astir post-viral prolonged cough. “We person not observed an antithetic spike successful infections here. It is simply a seasonal trend. It is usually observed during the post-winter transition, erstwhile determination is simply a emergence successful respiratory infections,” helium added.

He said that immoderate cough persisting beyond 2 weeks indispensable beryllium thoroughly investigated. “We request to regularisation retired different reasons for cough specified arsenic acute bronchitis oregon tuberculosis. If it is post-viral, past we suggest supportive attraction specified arsenic steam inhalation, anti-histamines, oregon inhaled medications.

Dr. Jacob K. Jacob, Professor and caput of the Department of General Medicine astatine Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, cautioned that though the concern was not alarming, post-viral cough should not beryllium ignored.

“Self-medication should beryllium avoided. If near untreated, the corruption could pb to further complications successful high-risk patients specified arsenic the elderly,” helium said.

“While I person not observed a spike successful cases, post-viral cough is seasonal and needs to beryllium medically addressed,” Dr. Jacob added.

Published - February 20, 2026 01:22 americium IST

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