my 13 year old sonMy 13year old has a terrible cough and I cant get him to the Doc till tomarow. He is coughing up yellow sputum and running light feaver. He sounds like a dog barking when he coughs and he has had bronchitis recently. What is your suggestion for what I should do.
Hi and thank you for choosing Chat Doctor to post your question. Whooping and barking sound during cough are due to laryngotracheal pertussis infection. What is his vaccination status? Did he have other symptoms, for example nasal congestion, tearing etc? Pertussis infection is a disease characterized by three stages :catarrh with nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing;paroxysmal phase characterized by paroxysm of intense coughing and a convalescent stage characterized by chronic cough. The mainstay of treatment is supportive therapy with good nutrition and plenty of rest. Antibiotics initiated during the paroxysmal stage(in which it looks to be your son) do not affect the duration and severity of illness but can prevent or alleviate secondary bacterial infection. Azithromycin is a good choice. I hope my opinion can be helpful. Kind regards Chat Doctor. 