Cough

Cough is an extremely annoying symptom, and sometimes it interferes with the daily life of the patient and makes it difficult to rest or sleep.

Cough

Cough is a reflex reaction from the body as a result of irritating the airways in order to keep them clear and get rid of these irritants. Cough also occurs due to some diseases and conditions.

Types of cough

Cough can be classified in several ways:

Cough types depending on its duration

• Acute cough: it starts suddenly and lasts 2-3 weeks.
• Subacute cough: it lasts 3-8 weeks and it usually occurs after an infection.
• Chronic cough: it lasts more than 8 weeks.
• Refractory cough: it’s a chronic cough that didn’t respond to the treatment.

Cough types depending on the mucus

• Wet cough: it comes with phlegm.
• Dry cough: it doesn’t come with phlegm.

Cough types depending on its sound

• Pertussis.
• Cough that sounds like barking, which might be a result of croup.
• Cough with wheezing, such as asthma.

Cough types depending on its time

• Daytime cough.
• Nocturnal cough.
• Cough with vomiting, which often occurs in children.

Causes of cough

Cough mostly occurs in people who smoke, with allergies, and children.

Some causes include the following:

• Certain irritants, such as strong odors, dust, pollutants, and some medications.
• Some conditions that cause acute and subacute cough, such as influenza, common cold, sinusitis, pertussis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and allergies.
• Some conditions that cause chronic cough, such as allergies, chronic bronchitis, throat and vocal cord disorders, COPD, GERD, some cancers, and some cardiac conditions like heart failure.

Treatment of cough

• The treatment depends mainly on the cause.
• You can drink some herbal beverages that help relieve the cough.
• Avoid smoking.
• Avoid cough irritants.
• You must contact the doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms occur: blood with the cough, shortness of breath, not being able to breath well, and extreme chest pain.