Question

Question

12 Feb

Is it common for flu sufferers to wheeze when they cough?

You remember that Vicks Formula 44 commercial I explained to you last October Heidi about a flu stricken woman coughing like crazy on a bus? I noticed too on that commercial Heidi the flu victim wheezed a lot when she coughed! That also happened to my 5'2" friend Michelle when she came down with the flu one time in 2018. "Sugarball" (my sweet nickname for Michelle) on this flu attack had a very nasty cough spasm. At night she told me every time she had the coughing spasm from her flu she wheezed! Now happily Michelle does not have bronchial asthma and she happily took Vicks Formula 44E cough formula to quiet her flu cough spasms but is wheezing common with flu sufferers when they cough? (How about you when you get a cold or flu? Do you ever wheeze when you cough?)

Answer 1

Answer

Flu expert

06 Mar

Hi there

I think it will probably depend on if the flu virus causes a viral bronchitis or not. One can also get 'reactive airways' after having had the flu, or any type of lung infection of the airways (and not the parenchyma) of the lungs - this will then cause the wheezing sound. Personally, I have never had a wheezing cough - or not that I can remember!

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