Prolonged cough for Five mos with continuing sputum production, sinus infection

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello, I am 63 years old and have been living in Bali for the last 6mos. I have had a cough for 5 mos! Also have lots of congestion, noise, throat is very red, I have been put on 2 different courses of antibiotics (first after 3 weeks - 3 X a day for 5 days and then after 3 mos -a different antibiotic 1 X 14 days. I still have all the same symptoms. Cough is wet and there is thick phlem. My ears have been blocked for 3 mos. I just went to the doctor again, he did a lung ex-ray and it did show, a white area about 4 inch long and couple inch wide at the lower part of my right lung. He said, it is bronchitis? Does this make sense after 5 mos and 2 different courses of antibiotics? My sinuses are very congested and have sinus headache, ears block, red throat, and bad cough, that sometimes it is difficult to catch a breath. I am not coughing all the time it is everyday but there are periods when I am not coughing. My husband is worried about TB? What do you think?

Dear Mariah:

I realize how worried you are about your persistent symptoms, certainly according to the characteristics of your signs and symptoms, it appears that you have been suffering from chronic sinusitis and probably developed Bronchitis or asthma as a complication.

Chronic sinusitis lasts 12 weeks or longer despite treatment attempts and is caused when nasal passages (sinuses) become inflamed and swollen. This condition interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. This mucus might become infected and cause upper respiratory infections that might travel to your lungs if not treated promptly.

It doesn’t appear to be a cause of TB, but one of the most common factors for developing chronic sinusitis is allergies such as hay fever, deviated septum or other medical condition that might have affected your immune system such as diabetes. Watch for allergens and also you might want to try over the counter antihistamines. I wish you a prompt recovery.