What is the best antibiotic for treatment cough?
464964
Just because you have a cough and a sore throat doesn't mean an antibiotic will help. If it hangs on for more than a week w/out getting better see your doctor. If it is bacterial they can give you antibiotics. If it is viral you will just have to wait it out.
180542
You don't treat a cold with antibiotics. Please, don't put your health in the hands of an amateur forum. Respect your mind and body. Consult your doctor. (I am a physician myself and this is the best advice I can possibly give you.)
984593
Hi,\nPl. find out the causes of cough the main causes are as under then accordingly take the treatment  The treatment is also given in the last.\nThe main causes are\nSmoking (smoke destroys the cells in the lining of the breathing tubes so that mucous cannot be expelled normally, leading to a chronic cough). This also includes passive smoking\n\nCommon cold, influenza and other viral infections (with yellow or white mucous) are the most common causes\n\nDrugs (such as ACE inhibitors or expectorants) cause persistent, dry, non-productive coughs \n\nStress (if the cough disappears during sleep, then stress may be the cause) \n\nAllergies \n\nAspiration \n\nBacterial infection such as bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis or tracheitis\n\nViral infection such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, upper respiratory infection\n\nCongestive heart failure\n\nEnvironmental pollution \n\nGastroesophagul reflux \n\nPostnasal drip\n\nAsthma \n\nLung cancer \n\nCough can be taken care of at home.\nIncreasing humidity in the air helps relieve coughing. A vapourizer and a steamy shower are two ways to increase the humidity. \n\nDrink extra fluids to help thin secretions and make them easier to cough up. \n\nGlyceryl guaiacolate (guaifenesin) is available without prescription and may help liquefy the mucous. Drink lots of fluids if taking this medication.\n\nWhen a cold and a stuffy, runny nose accompany the cough, it is often caused by mucous dripping down the back of the throat. A decongestant that opens the nasal passages will relieve this postnasal drip, and is the best treatment for that type of cough. \n\nDecongestants such as phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine or combinations of these two decongestants are available as over-the-counter cold medications. Don't give decongestants to a child under six years of age unless prescribed by the doctor. It is important to talk to your physician before using any cough medications for children under two. \n\nIf you have high blood pressure (hypertension), consult the doctor before taking decongestants. \n\nCoughs due to chronic postnasal drip are probably caused by either sinus infection or allergy. If allergy is the cause, it is typically treated by avoiding the trigger (allergen) that is causing the allergy. In addition, anti-histamines and a steroid nasal spray are sometimes used to suppress the allergic inflammation. \n\nDry, tickling coughs can be relieved by sucking on cough lozenges or hard candy. (However, never give a lozenge or hard candy to a child under 3 years old because it is a choking hazard.) \n\nCodeine is a very effective cough suppressant, but has some side effects, can lead to physical dependence and addiction and requires a prescription. \n\nDextromethorphan (such as in Vick's Formula 44 of Robitussin DM) is an effective cough suppressant that is available without prescription. \n\nThe treatment  of cough is as under\n\nTreatment of a cough generally involves addressing the condition causing it. An acute infection such as pneumonia may require antibiotics, an asthma-induced cough may be treated with the use of bronchodilators, or an antihistamine may be administered in the case of an allergy. Physicians prefer not to suppress a productive cough, since it aids the body in clearing respiratory system of infective agents and irritants. However, cough medicines may be given if the patient cannot rest because of the cough or if the cough is not productive, as is the case with most coughs associated with colds or flu. The two types of drugs used to treat coughs are antitussives (drugs that suppress a cough) and expectorants (drugs that make mucous easier to cough up by thinning it).\n\nFeel Free to Contact\n\nDr.Mojo
42773
Some evidence has suggested that zinc might trim a day or two off of the usual 7-10 day course.  But essentially there is nothing you can do except treat the symptoms.  Hydration, decongestants, and analgesics can be helpful for symptoms.  Painful or excessive cough can be treated with anti-tussives, but if possible avoid using these, since cough is an effective way of cleaning your lungs and airways.  \n\nHelp prevent getting a cold when people around you are sick by washing your hands frequently, and never touching your face.  You may want to frequently clean off keyboards and other surfaces that other people use.\n\nIf you have a cold, be kind and wash your hands frequently,  do not cough or sneeze into the air or into your hands, and let people know that you have a cold so that they can take precautions.  If you have something worse than a common cold, avoid people alltogether and see a physician.\n\nFinally if you do catch someone's common cold--and you probably will--take comfort that you will never get THAT particular cold again, since you are building an immunity to it.  However, there will always be plenty of new strains coming along every year that you can catch.
319665
Virus' cant be treated with antibiotics, you would use an antiviral med.  Pneumonia can kill you and it is treatable with antibiotics such as Keflex.
230836
I'm amazed people are recommending conventional medicines here when this is in the Alternative Medicine section.\n\nIt's really important with coughs to make sure there is expectoration. Do not give cough suppressants ever. \n\nThe best home remedy is to rub Vicks Vaborub (or something similar) on her chest and throat area - and cover it. \n\nAlso steam inhalations will help break up tough mucous. Boil some water (put some Vicks or eucalyptus in it) and put a towel over her head with her head directly above the hot water/eucalyptus and tell her to breath slowly and deeply. Do this for about 10 minutes a couple times a day. Keep her well hydrated. Let her rest properly (don't send her to school until it's resolved - if it's as bad as you say).\n\nDon't mess around with homeopathic remedies unless prescribed by a homeopath who's taken the case properly.\n\nHope she's better soon.
680462
http://www.makeyourown.net/cough_drops.shtml\n\nI can't vouch for their effectiveness or safety.
350623
if u had asked this question 50 yrs back doctors would have been in real trouble. but now loads of other options are available... quinolones e.g. ciprofloxacin, macrolides e.g. erythromycin, cephalosporins e.g. cefradin, ceftriaxone... the list goes on. however, choice of antibiotic depends on the nature of the organism, i.e. the bacteria. we live in a age of scientific excellence baby, at least in some fields!
629807
Hey Hickemtwiddle, I guess some people didn't read your question. You said cough drops don't work, and people still said cough drops. I agree, cough drops do not work, because they are just candy.\nHowever,\nthe best way to get rid of a cough, is sassafras tea, no sugar and no honey. Honey and sugar coats the throat, making it sticky, causing the cough to remain persistant.
438639
Don't give her any cough suppressants -- they are dangerous because they are suppressive. The mucous needs to be loosened and expelled.\n\nIt's probably the change of season that's affecting her. And it sounds like the cold nite air is aggravating the cough. \n\nYou might get a humidifier going in her bedroom. \n\nAlso, steam inhalations will help to break up the mucous in her chest and move it out. \n\nPut a dollop of Vicks Vaporub (or eucalyptus essential oil drops) in some boiling water. Place a towel over her head -- and have her hover over the boiling water -- breathe deeply for 10 mins. Repeat as often as needed -- but do the steam inhalations just before bed at night and just after she wakes up in the mornings. It will definitely soothe the coughing and help her expel the mucous.\n\nHope this helps:).
760396
The best thing is the Mucinex.  BUT - there's a catch with Mucinex.  You HAVE to drink a lot of water for it to work.  The water helps it to thin the mucous.  If the cough has been hanging on for that long she might want to go see the doc, though.  If she still has some Mucinex, have her take it - and drink at least 8 8-oz. glasses of water a day while she takes it.  It'll thin the mucous out and make it break up - she might cough still, but she'll be coughing up the congestion and eventually it'll stop.  The purpose of the cough is to get that stuff out of her.  Mucinex helps loosen it up so she can do that.  It just doesn't work if she doesn't drink enough water, that's all.
553090
First of all, antibiotics will only work against a bacterial infection, not viral.  It's possible the doctor wanted to confirm that this was bacterial pneumonia (yes, there is also viral pneumonia).  \n\nSo, you may be wondering, "Why not give antibiotics either way, just to be safe?"\n\nUnfortunately, the wanton distribution of antibiotics for every little sniffle that came into a doctor's office is responsible for creating some very strong bacteria today.  The overuse of antibiotics has caused the bacteria to evolve and become stronger and more resistant to antibiotic treatment.  Your doctor is probably doing the right thing by withholding antibiotic treatment initially.
75802
robitussin cough syrup works great.  But if you have a cough that is worse at night and will not go away, along with wheezing, it could be asthma and you should get checked out by a doctor.
957173
not useless.. just not recommended for viral infections\n\n\nBy far the majority of bronchitis cases stem from viral infections. This means that most cases of bronchitis are short-term and require nothing more than treatment of symptoms to relieve discomfort. \n\n\nAntibiotics will not cure a viral illness. \n\n\nExperts in infectious diseases have been warning for years that overuse of antibiotics is allowing many bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics available. \n\n\nDoctors often prescribe antibiotics because they feel pressured by people’s expectations to receive them. This expectation has been fueled by both misinformation in the media and marketing by drug companies. Don’t expect to receive a prescription for an antibiotic if your infection is caused by a virus. \n\n\nAcetaminophen (Feverall, Panadol, Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil) will help with fever and muscle aches. \n\n\nDrinking fluids is very important because fever causes the body to lose fluid faster. Lung secretions will be thinner and thus easier to clear when you are well hydrated. \n\n\nA cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can help decrease bronchial irritation. \n\n\nAn over-the-counter cough suppressant may be helpful. Preparations with guaifenesin (Robitussin, Breonesin, Siltussin) will loosen secretions; dextromethorphan (Benylin, Pertussin, Trocal, Vicks 44) suppresses cough.
286846
What is a cough?\n- Coughing is the body's way of removing foreign material or mucous from the lungs and throat.\n- Patients seek medical treatment for cough more than any other complaint and treatment costs exceed $1 billion dollars annually in the U.S.\n- The two general classifications of cough are productive coughs (producing phlegm or mucous from the lungs) and nonproductive coughs (dry and not producing any mucous or phlegm).\n- Coughs are also divided into acute (less than 3 weeks' duration) and chronic (more than three weeks' duration).\n\nSome causes of coughing\n- Acute cough is most often caused by the common viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cough is usually secondary to stimulation of nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa receptors. This results from the secretions of the nose and sinuses draining into the throat.\n- A dry cough may follow viral illnesses and may last up to several weeks.\n- Chronic cough may be caused by a variety of underlying diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, allergies, GERD and chronic post nasal drip.\n- Smoking is a major cause of chronic cough.\n- Certain medications (ACE inhibitors for hypertension) cause coughing as a side effect.\n\nTreatment of coughs\n- Treatment of a cough should be directed at the underlying cause of the cough.\n- Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.\n- Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- Expectorants are useful to help break and bring up mucous. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.\n\nA physician should be called if: \n- the patient is producing green, yellow, or rusty colored sputum. This is usually the result of an infection.\n- the cough lingers more than 7 to 10 days after other symptoms have cleared.\n- any cough lasts longer than two weeks.\n- a persistent fever is present or if the coughing up of blood occurs. \n*RZ*
904099
If you are from India then your problem is easily solved. Go and buy DEKOFCYN  manufactured by ALARSIN an  Ayurvedic medicine. The pack comes in 50 tablets , 100 tablets. Buy 100 tablets and take 2 tablets 3 times a day ( a small write up is also available inside the bottle) for 15 days. Your cough will stop withing 3 days of usage and this has no side effects what so ever. It is a very safe remedy and can be combined with any allopathic medicines also. Even very small children can be given this tablet. I have prescribed this medicine to more than 500 people so far and everybody has come out of their cough problem without any side effects . All the best. ( The medicine is available in all allopathy shops also in India and you will get it very easily here.)
980240
very little I'm afraid - most cough medicines are expensive and none of them work that well at all..... stick with the honey and lemon or sipping hot water.\n\n\nIf it has been going on longer than a few weeks speak to your doctor.