Back on Pred for ?RSV - anyone else ?

[Retallack]

Finished prednisolone October 2023 after 4 years. Just been to GP for excessive mucous, coughing fits, difficulty expectorating. Listened to my chest and diagnosed " acute upper respiratory tract viral infection - ? RSV". (Was 1 year too young to have the vaccine.) Been prescribed 30mg pred once a day for 5 days. Anyone else had this ? Any advice welcome. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"Anyone else had this ?"

What - the RSV or pred for a chest infection? Giving pred for a chest infection is quite common nowadays, even in combo with abx for a bacterial infection. It reduces the inflammation and swelling in the lungs so you breath better and can cough up the gunk.

Did the GP suggest inhaling? Even steam helps - and adding Vick or Friar's Balsam may be old fashioned but helpful - don't use a treasured pottery bowl or plastic you need to use again though!! You will never get the smell out ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

We used to be given Menthol crystals at school and I have used them ever since. I have always found them to be really good in my case.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Less messy than Vick!!!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Much nicer than Vick. My grandmother used to cover myself and my sister in Vick every night when we went to stay with her. I don’t think we actually needed it though! She just thought it kept colds away!! I remember she used to use Pond’s Vanishing cream on herself and had lovely skin.

[Retallack in reply to PMRpro]

P red for chest infection. Says it will help my chest expand and cough up the gunk. Have been doing inhalations with eucalyptus and tea tree oils. Many thanks for replying.

[SnazzyD]

A short whack of steroids is standard with respiratory problems. Sometimes they do this dose level and just stop after a few days and other times they do a sort of reduction plan. By plan I mean over a couple of weeks or days, not slow by PMR standards which is a different kettle of fish entirely. Usually they cover it with antibiotics but presumably they are very sure it is viral and low risk of secondary bacterial infection. If you did have a bacterial infection sneaking in by the back door, at least you are only on Pred for 5 days so any suppression of signs won’t last long.

[Phoebenooby]

I’ve had a fluey illness since Xmas. Now got a hacking cough , very muccousy. I don’t have a fever or chest pain though. Have you got chest pain? I have doubled my pred yesterday and today hoping it might shift it…

[Retallack in reply to Phoebenooby]

No chest pain as such apart from a bit sore from coughing so much. GP returned my call and then asked to see me an hour later. He could hear the infection crackling away in my chest ! Maybe you should ask your surgery to check your chest. Didn't have a fever. Best wishes

[Pollyanna16]

don’t have this thank goodness but sorry to hear you are really poorly. I hadn’t heard of this use of steroids, useful to know. Hope you feel much better soon x

[Pixix]

for five years I suffered a chest infection 4 - 5 times a season. Each time I had steroids to help get through it. I think it’s standard practice?! I crackled my way through life at that point! Now we have to shield each winter to avoid the situation,as the consultant found no way to solve it! Take care, chest infections are nasty!

[Greenthought]

I too have had a short dose of steroids twice this year to get through viral chest infections (despite having had all available jabs!) Like you, apart from the first time when I think I must have had RSV and was briefly hospitalised, , I didn't have fever or chest pain, just wheezing and shortness of breath. I've now been put on a permanent daily steroid inhaler, a preventer called Clenil Modulite 200, which gives a tiny dose of steroids (compared to oral Pred) and seems to help with the wheezing that happens mainly at night. Steam inhalation also helps with the dry cough. I'm 77 this year. Although my GP says not, I wonder if this is payback for having smoked throughout my 20s! Well, it was the 1970s...

Hope you soon feel better!

[Retallack in reply to Greenthought]

Interesting. Thank you.

[Katietee]

Hi Retallack: I was opposite to you - at 78 I was given the vaccine but at 80 my husband was too old to receive it. He caught RSV three weeks before Christmas and has only now recovered from that dreadful cough, whereas I did not catch RSV. Just shows the vaccine has worked for me! Only wish I had known about the use of steroids for him. Doctor told him antibiotics would not treat a virus so he had to rely on over-the-counter medications to relieve his symptoms.