Return to Beijing but no return of my cough

Richard Smith   (2008-06-30 11:30)  Case Journal

I returned to Beijing in May for two nights, but my cough did not return.

I arrived in the middle of the day and took a taxi to the hotel. The atmosphere was as murky as it was in January, but it was raining and I couldn't taste the air, as I could last time.

I stayed in a better one that I stayed in last time--which might be important as the air conditioning was probably better. I certainly didn't taste coal in the air in my hotel room, as I did last time.

Later in the afternoon I went for a walk for about 90 minutes in Tiannamen Square and the surrounds. It was still murky and raining.

The next day I attended a meeting all day at Peking University. Again I wasn't aware of pollution in the air.

The following day I left the hotel in mid-morning, took a taxi to the airport, and left in the early afternoon.

I didn't ever develop a cough. These I see as possible explanations:

1. My initial cough wasn't caused by pollution

2. Pollution levels seemed lower this time--partly perhaps because of the rain

3. I wasn't there long enough to develop symptoms

4. My hotel had better air conditioning than last time

I favour a mixture of 2 to 4.

Competing interests

I'm the editor of the journal, but I have no financial conflict of interest in this case report.

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Well?

James Cave   (2008-06-26 10:32)  Family Doctor

Did the cough come back when you went back to Beijing?

Competing interests

None declared

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