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Coughing is a spontaneous reflex that keeps our throat clean and prevents unwanted irritants, which is a common illness during childhood.
Although it can be annoying, especially in a public place. covid-19 cough was a common symptom of covid-19 positive.
It can be acute and chronic, A cough that lasts for less than 3 weeks is an acute cough, and last longer than 2 to 3 weeks is a chronic cough.
If a cough brings up phlegm or mucus it is called a productive cough and could suggest pneumonia, bronchitis, or the flu.
The color of the mucus can signal a more serious problem (1).
Learn More About – Update On A New Variant Omicron
What Are The Possible Causes of Cough?
There are many causes of cough. which include:
Bacteria and Viruses
This is the most common reason for cough, which can cause the symptoms of a retreating cold or viral flu.
Most of the time it goes away on its own or in a few days.
Sometimes dry cough stays last weeks or months. this is because dry coughing is more irritating than wet coughing.
Some home remedies and doctor-recommended medicines like antibiotics give you relief from a cough.
Allery
If you are allergic to someone, then that thing can be responsible for your cough like pollen may trigger your lungs to overreact.
Smoking
People who smoke are more prone to coughing, and lung diseases like cancer, COPD, chronic bronchitis, etc.
However, pollution also triggers a cough.
Smoke surrounds us all time, especially in cities, which almost always triggers a chronic cough with a whooping sound.
Asthma
In this, people often hear a whistling or wheezing sound in the chest in addition to a cough. It is a form in which the only symptom is a chronic cough.
Asthma is also a cause of cough in young children, however, seen frequent coughs can be a symptom of asthma.
If you have a cough along with either symptom of asthma such as shortness of breath, or tightness in the chest then there is a possibility of asthma.
Asthma medications prescribed by your allergist will help to relieve the coughing attacks (2).
Dust
This is one of the major causes of cough, everywhere when a foreign irritant enters our throat, they irritate our throat, which leads to a cough.
Other causes of coughing
- Certain medicine’s side effects
- Damage in vocal cords
- Infections like pneumonia, whooping cough, lung inflammation, and croup
- Postnasal drip
- Acid reflex
- Sleep apnea
2. Types of cough
Listening to the patient’s cough, the doctor can identify the location of the irritant. here are common types of cough, and classified coughs.
Cough with Infection
If a person with a cough has a frequent fever, unexplained weight loss, and lack of hunger, the symptoms of this type of cough are associated with an infected cough.
Infection means it can also be viral, Tuberculosis, bacterial, or fungal infection.
Wet cough
A wet cough, also called a productive cough, is a cough that typically brings up mucus.
Wet coughs are typically due to an infection, such as the flu, the common cold, or a chest infection.
If a person has a wet cough, with blood included, it could mean that person has:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchiectasis
- Tuberculosis
- COPD a lung disease
If a person has a chest infection and there is a small amount of bright red blood, then it is coming from the lungs. it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Dry cough
This type of cough doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus, which is also known as a nonproductive cough.
Dry cough most commonly occurs due to respiratory illnesses, such as colds and the flu.
It’s common in both adults and children, also dry cough is the most common symptom of covid-19, which also includes fever and difficulty in breathing.
Usually, it goes on its own, but still then taking steam gives a lot of relief in it. In adults antibiotics, and some medicines can treat it well.
Whooping Coughing
It is caused by a bacterial infection that causes violent coughing fits, also known as pertussis. it is a highly contagious infection.
Symptoms of whooping coughing. include:
- Loud, and wheezing sound
- Difficulty in breathing
- Pain in chest
- Headache, fever
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in body
People with weak immune systems, such as babies, may struggle to fight the infection.
If its treatment is started within 1 week, then it is good because then it takes an active form and also shows other complications. include:
- Pneumonia
- Shortness of breath will increase
- Takes time to treat a cough
Croup cough
Croup is a narrowing of the windpipe and infection of the upper airway which obstructs breathing and causes a barking cough.
It is typically caused by the parainfluenza virus and is commonly found in infants and young children.
In this condition, the person can see these symptoms include:
- Cold
- Loud barking cough
- Fever
- Breathing can be noisy
3. What Happen Inside Our body while we cough?
When someone inhales a foreign particle or irritant that enters the windpipe, it can interrupt our breathing.
In that case, our brain gets alert and activates the cough reflex, then vocal cords open wider, which increases the volume of air being drawn into the lungs.
After that epiglottis closes over the windpipe, effectively shutting off the flow of air.
Then the rib muscles and the abdominal muscles contract, putting pressure on the lungs, as the windpipe is closed, it increased pressure, and then the epiglottis opens, causing the air to burst out.
Along with air, foreign particles come out.
4. Complications
If it is ignored and not treated properly, it can also lead to some complications. which include:
- Long time cough can lead to bronchiectasis
- Tuberculosis
- Headache
- Vomitting
- Loss of bladder control
- Excessive sweating
- Sleep disturbance
- Even feel broken ribs
An acute cough is the least serious type of cough. It only lasts for three weeks or less and will most likely clear up on its own.
Coughs that make certain sounds, like whooping, wheezing, or barking, may also signal a bigger problem (3)
5. How Does The Doctor Diagnose it?
Typically, the doctor will involve your looking down your throat, listening to your cough, and asking about any other symptoms.
If there is blood in the mucus, then the doctor may recommend you some tests. which include:
- A chest X-ray, which mainly recommended
- Blood test, if a person has an allergic response
- Mucus test, if the doctor sees the symptoms of tuberculosis in a person
- CT scan, usually, in this the full view of the chest is visible.
- Esophageal Ph monitoring
6. Treatment
Its treatment depends on what caused you to cough, but in most cases, it goes away on its own. which include:
- The doctor may recommend you OTC medicines, which work in most cases and prescribe you some oral antibiotics.
- medicines will cure you completely within 6 to 8 days.
- They also prescribe cough syrups, which is the first medicine from the doctor’s side.
In the case of children, if children suffer from cough and are unable to sleep, etc then talk to your doctor, and don’t use any cough medicines from your side.
kids can have more side effects than adults and are more likely to get an overdose on the medicine.
NOTE: If a person triggers asthma, acid reflux, COPD, etc then their treatment is also different in that condition.
Home-Remedies
NOTE: Usually, it is said that medicine should not be taken for 1 to 2 days in a cold, or cough.
Meanwhile, there are many home remedies that prove to be very effective for cough.
- Take ginger, and cook them for 1 minute
- Add honey to the spoon, now add cooked ginger in it.
- Chewing it properly
NOTE: Never give honey to a child under a year old, it can make them very sick.
7. Prevention
If a person has an allergy to some things like pollen, or pets, then avoiding them is a good option.
Quit smoking – Smoking is a common reason that triggers your cough. But some people cough with pollution, so make sure to wear a mask.
Change in diet – The doctor may recommend you change in diet.
BOTTOM LINE
Croup cough is typically caused by the parainfluenza virus and is commonly found in infants and young children.
A cough that lasts for less than 3 weeks is acute, and lasts longer than 2 to 3 weeks is a chronic cough.
The doctor may recommend you OTC medicines that will completely cure you within a week and some oral antibiotics.
