“Do I have the flu?”
I'm 59 years old and I have been coughing for about 3 weeks. I want to know if you can rupture something under your ribs from coughing? I have had a z pack an Benzonatate for coughing a 5 day supply of antibiotics.
Female | 59 years old
2 Answers
Ear,NoseandThroatDoctor(ENT)Ear,Nose,andThroat
No you can't rupture something under the ribs from coughing, but the inside of the lungs can be traumatized and inflamed from coughing. This is essentially bronchitis. The muscles of the chest and diaphragm will also be sore. A zpack is not enough to treat pneumonia, if thats what you were given it for. Sounds like you could use a chest xray, and then maybe an inhaled steroid if you are negative for pneumonia.
You may have strained the muscles which lie between each rib - the intercostal muscles. It is possible to have even had a minor tear to one from vigorous coughing.
