<s>[INST] Hello, I believe I recently came down with the flu as it started suddenly with a sore throat and body aches through the upper back and neck . Spent yesterday with a mild fever and lots of coughing. I am an asthmatic so the added inflammation in my bronchial passageways is less than pleasant to say the least. Today I feel like I am on the up&up and the cough is no longer producing white sputum , but when I cough hard there is a metallic-type taste in my mouth. I figured it s normal since I spent the better part of 48 hours, day and night, hacking my lungs out. Anyway, is this normal or something to be concerned about? Thanks so much! -Jonathon [/INST] Hi, Viral fevers are known to be debilitating and sap a persons' energy quickly. They manifest as anything from colds, to cough, to fever, to gastric disturbance and body aches. Altered taste in the mouth, or in your case, metallic taste is one of the symptoms of a viral infection because a virus can affect your sense of taste. Also, since you are an asthmatic, it is also possible that this added infection has caused you to breathe predominantly from your mouth making it Chat Doctor.  Deny </s>