Understanding Cough: Causes, Types, and When to Seek Care
What is Cough?
- Cough is a natural reflex to clear irritants from the throat and airways.
- Dry cough is a common type that persists after respiratory infections, characterized by a dry, choppy sound.
- Productive cough involves coughing up mucus from the airways and lungs.
Causes of Cough
- Common causes of cough include colds, influenza, pneumonia, and irritants like smoke or chemicals.
- Uncommon infections like whooping cough can also cause coughing.
- Prolonged, chronic cough can be due to conditions like asthma, allergies, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Smoking and less common illnesses can also lead to prolonged cough.
- In children, colds are the most common cause of cough. However, prolonged or unusual cough should be investigated.
Managing Cough at Home
- Lozenges can soothe throat irritation and lessen coughing.
- Elevating the head during sleep can alleviate nighttime coughing.
- Drinking fluids, especially hot tea, honey water with ginger, and plain water, helps soothe the throat.
- Over-the-counter cough medicines are available, but their effectiveness lacks clear evidence.
- Seek medical care if cough persists beyond three weeks or if underlying causes are suspected.
Treatment for Cough
- Most coughs resolve on their own, and medical attention isn’t necessary for most cases.
- If cough persists beyond three weeks, it’s advisable to seek physical care for investigation and treatment.
- Appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause of the cough.
When to Seek Medical Care
- Seek care if cough is accompanied by fever lasting more than four days, difficulty breathing, or prolonged symptoms.
- Urgently seek care if you have coughed up blood, experience severe difficulty breathing, or have high fever and worsened general condition. Call 112 for immediate assistance.