My cough is getting worse in Albania and I have asthma. Could it be more than a cold?

A cough that starts with a cold can sometimes linger, but because you have

asthma, I would pay particular attention to whether your breathing or usual asthma

symptoms are changing.

I would ask when the illness started, whether you are improving or getting worse, and

whether you have fever, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or a noticeable

increase in your usual asthma symptoms. I would also ask which inhalers or other asthma

medicines you normally use and whether you have needed them more often than usual.

That information can help me distinguish a straightforward respiratory infection from an

asthma flare or another problem that needs assessment. If you have significant difficulty

breathing, chest pain, rapidly worsening asthma symptoms, or feel that you cannot breathe

normally, you should seek immediate in-person medical care.