Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Question about cough again

March 25, 2020 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello Mrs. Gehring,

I hope you are still doing well, and I understand that the current situation is already causing enough worries, but I have a quick question...

I had mentioned to you recently about my persistent cough, which has not gone away after over 3 weeks. You had mentioned that after 6 weeks an x-ray would be done, which is now making me anxious because that is not too far away.

It is not a persistent strong cough, it comes in certain intervals for a short while each day. I still have no other symptoms, no difficulty breathing or anything like that, it's just a bit of a tickle cough.

Now I am starting to have fears again about something serious like pulmonary fibrosis. Should I try to stay calm about this? What else could be causing it, maybe something related to my mental state? Strangely enough, this started around the same time I started getting a bit paranoid about COVID... Could it be allergies? I have hay fever, but it doesn't usually cause coughing until May. Do you think I should relax and it's just a minor irritation?

Thank you and regards.

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good morning,

Thank you, I am doing well, but a close family member is not (no Corona), so I am online less frequently.

This irritating cough seems more like a hyperreactive bronchial system, so perhaps a lung function test would be advisable, especially during pollen season. I believe you still do not understand what pulmonary fibrosis means! It primarily causes severe shortness of breath and if there is coughing, it is persistent! It is a shame that you always exaggerate minor discomforts into serious illnesses.

But yes, that is due to the anxiety disorder, and I am sorry for that. When one fixates on their bronchial tubes, they also tend to cough for psychological reasons, that would also be a real explanation.

Distract yourself and please do not google!

Sincerely, Dr. Gehring