| SYMPTOMS | | DIAGNOSIS | | SELF-CARE |
|---|
Begin Here
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| 1. Has your cough begun recently? | 
Yes | Go to Question 12.** | | |
No
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| 2. Are you very short of breath, and are you coughing up pink, frothy mucus? |
Yes | Your symptoms may be from a serious condition called PULMONARY EDEMA (fluid in the lungs). | | EMERGENCY
GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM RIGHT AWAY. |
No
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| 3. Does your cough produce clear or pale yellow mucus? |
Yes | You may have a viral illness such as a COLD or the FLU. | | Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Try over-the-counter medicines to treat your symptoms. |
No
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| 4. Does your cough produce yellow, tan or green mucus? |
Yes | You may have an infection of the airways such as CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. If you have a fever with shaking chills and are very ill, you may have a more serious infection such as PNEUMONIA. | | See your doctor. He or she can prescribe medicine to relieve your symptoms. Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. If you smoke, stop smoking. |
No
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| 5. Does the cough come with shortness of breath and wheezing? |
Yes | These symptoms may be a sign of ASTHMA, a constriction of the airways. | | Asthma can be dangerous and should be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. |
No
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| 6. Do you have swelling in your legs and/or shortness of breath when you are active or after you have been lying down? |
No | Go to Question 10.* | | |
Yes
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| 7. Do you have heart problems? |
Yes | Persistent coughing can be caused byCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, especially when there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs. | | See your doctor. |
No
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| 8. Have you recently started coughing up blood or bloody sputum? |
No | Go to Question 12.** | | |
Yes
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| 9. Have you recently started having sharp chest pain, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the legs and sudden shortness of breath? |
Yes | Bloody mucus with these symptoms may mean that a blood clot has moved from your leg to your lungs. This is called PULMONARY EMBOLISM. | | EMERGENCY
SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY. |
No
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| *10. Do you have a fever, chills and night sweats along with chest pain when you cough or take a deep breath? |
Yes | These symptoms may be caused byTUBERCULOSIS or another type of infection. | | See your doctor. |
No
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| 11. Have you unintentionally lost weight? |
Yes | This may be a sign of a serious illness, such asLUNG CANCER. Other signs of lung cancer may include a cough that produces bloody sputum, shortness of breath and wheezing. | | See your doctor right away. |
No
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| **12. Did you inhale dust, particles or an object? |
Yes | IRRITATION OF THE AIRWAYS will cause coughing to attempt to clear the object or irritation out of the airway. | | If the coughing is severe or if you don't believe the irritant has been cleared from your airway, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. |
No
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| For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think your problem is serious, call your doctor right away. | | | | |
