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Chronic cough fiver body pains
Dear Doctor
I have been experiencing a persistent dry cough and breathing difficulty for the past 8–10 years. I also have headaches, body pain, and unexplained fever.
I have undergone the following tests:
Chest X-ray: Normal.
HRCT Chest: Normal.
PFT: Slightly low.
ESR: 40.
CRP: Positive.
ANA, RA Factor, and Anti-CCP: Normal.
Other blood tests: Normal.
Despite these investigations, the cause of my symptoms remains unclear, and my problems continue.
I would like to investigate whether there is any hidden inflammation, infection, or other disease in my body.
Kindly review my reports and advise whether a Whole Body FDG PET-CT scan is use d.
Thank you ,
Answers (29)
𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.
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Please book an online consultation with me so we can evaluate your symptoms and plan the right treatment.
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Do a sputum smear examination
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Consult me for further management
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If you would like to discuss your concern in more detail, please feel free to contact me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine. Alternatively, you can connect with me through the Practo
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Could be having copd. Please share details of your symptoms, then I can help you further.
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Do consult
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Do consult
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Sputum for AFB
Next Steps
consult
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You must have to go for
CBNAAT
sputum for AFB
After these reports further investigation will be decided.
Please consult with report.
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in-person consultation with a pulmonologist for further evaluation
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If you would like to discuss your concern in more detail, please feel free to contact me on WhatsApp at eight six one nine six six nine nine zero six. Alternatively, you can connect with me through the Practo app for a detailed consultation
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Would recommend to do sputum AFB and CBNAAT. PET CT isn't advised
Next Steps
Would like to evaluate with detailed history. I'd be happy to assist you on further treatment plan. For personalised medical guidance and a detailed assessment of your concerns, kindly book an online consultation with me through the Practo app!
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CRP RAISED ITS HIDDEN INFLAMMATION.
STEAM INHALATION WITH VICKS OR EUCALYPTUS OIL TWO TIMES BEFORE MEALS.
MONTEK LC ONE AT NIGHT AFTER DINNER FOR 5 DAYS.
AZEE500 ONE PER DAY AFTER FOOD FOR FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS.
ZERODOL SP THREE TIMES A DAY AFTER FOOD FOR 3TO5 DAYS.
CHERICOF SYR 5ML TWICE N 10ML AT NIGHT. DUOLINE N BUDECORT RESPULE TWO TIMES FOR 3TO5 DAYS.
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kindly do connect and consult with me for better treatment plan and advice on your case via PRACTO app
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Do consult
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Hello,
Take Balanced diet. Do sputum examination for AFB at lab and send report.
For diet details and ePrescription consult by practo app.
Time: 09:00 to 12:00 and 19:00 to 20:00.
Thanks.
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Dr. Das Kashyap Dinesh
General Physician
2 yrs exp
Surat
Hello, persistent cough and breathing difficulty for 8–10 years, along with unexplained fever, body pain, ESR of 40 and positive CRP, need further evaluation by a pulmonologist or internal medicine specialist.
A normal chest X-ray and HRCT are reassuring, but they do not rule out every cause. Depending on your history and examination, your doctor may consider asthma or airway disease, tuberculosis or other infections, and other causes of chronic inflammation. Your slightly low PFT results should also be reviewed.
A whole-body FDG PET-CT is not usually the first test for these symptoms. It may be considered if a detailed evaluation does not identify the cause and there is a specific concern about hidden infection, inflammation or cancer. Your specialist should decide whether its potential benefits justify the cost, radiation exposure and possibility of false-positive findings.
Please bring all previous reports and discuss whether repeat spirometry with bronchodilator testing, sputum tests, or targeted blood investigations are appropriate.
Important safety advice: If you currently have significant breathing difficulty, chest pain, coughing up blood, or high persistent fever, seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for further investigations. Avoid starting antibiotics or steroids without medical supervision.
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Dr. Divyansh Jain
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Ghaziabad
Hello,
I understand your concern. Persistent dry cough and breathing difficulty for 8â10 years, along with fever, headaches, and body pain, require further evaluation.
Normal chest X-ray and HRCT findings are reassuring but do not exclude conditions such as asthma, cough-variant asthma, upper airway cough syndrome, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).
An ESR of 40 and positive CRP suggest inflammation but are nonspecific and cannot independently confirm infection or autoimmune disease.
A whole-body FDG PET-CT is not recommended as a routine first-line investigation in this situation. It may be considered only if further clinical assessment raises suspicion of a specific condition requiring advanced imaging.
Next Steps
Consult a pulmonologist and internal medicine specialist for a detailed clinical assessment. Review your pulmonary function test results, including bronchodilator reversibility. FeNO testing or bronchial challenge testing may help evaluate asthma. Consider repeat CBC, quantitative CRP, ESR, and targeted infection screening, including tuberculosis testing if clinically indicated. Evaluate other possible causes, including allergies, GERD, environmental exposures, and sleep-related breathing disorders. If fever remains unexplained, further investigations should be guided by examination findings rather than proceeding directly to PET-CT.
Health Tips
Avoid smoking, dust, pollution, and other respiratory irritants. Maintain adequate hydration and keep a record of fever episodes and associated symptoms. Seek medical attention if you develop worsening breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, low oxygen levels, or persistent high fever. A systematic investigation is more likely to identify the underlying cause than an immediate whole-body scan. Wishing you good health and a speedy recovery.
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Dr. Sachin Bhiwaji Sanap
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Hingoli
Consult to Chest physician in person will be helpful
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Needs evaluation
Do consult
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Dr. Bharat Jharwal
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Barmer
Aapke symptoms ke anusar aapko extra pulmonary tuberculosis bhi ho skta h to iske liye aap cbnaat karwaye uske reports kisi physician ko check karwaye kyoki extra pulmonary tb me hrct chest xray normal aate h
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Karan Suneja
General Physician
4 yrs exp
Delhi
Consult pulmonologist.
Next Steps
Check eosinophils levels and also get allergy panel tests done as well and take Syrup zedex 10 ml twice a day and steam inhalation with tablet karvol plus in it .
Health Tips
Better to consult
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Jhansi
Avoid fried and spicy food
Water intake more
Green leafy vegetables more
Fiber meal
Walk
Do connect and consult
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Dr. Marupilla Avinash Teja
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Vizag Muralinagar
Is there any weight loss recently
And hemoptysis
Cough with sputum
If so the colour of sputum
Next Steps
Semd for sputum AFB and cbnaat
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Dr. Konica Gupta
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Ghaziabad
Kindly consult for diagnosis and treatment
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Practitioner
7 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. Ankita Gahlot
Obstetrician
12 yrs exp
Bangalore
A normal chest X-ray, HRCT and autoimmune panel, but a raised ESR and positive CRP, means there's some ongoing inflammation that hasn't been pinned down yet, even though the common causes have been ruled out. A PET-CT is a significant scan usually reserved for specific situations, so it isn't something to decide without a specialist reviewing your full case first.
Next Steps
Please see a rheumatologist or physician, who can review your reports together and decide whether a PET-CT or a different, more targeted test fits your case better. Carry all your reports to that visit.
Health Tips
Symptoms lasting 8 to 10 years need proper follow-through, so please don't let this go untreated further.
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