How to treat a cough

Before treating a cough, it is important to understand what this phenomenon is and what its causes are.

Coughing is a reflex act that occurs in response to irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane.: pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi, etc.

Irritating agents can be both external factors (dust, smoke, tobacco, infectious process), and internal factors - mucus trickling down the back wall of the pharynx, excessive sputum, etc.

Cough may occur briefly and acutely, or it may have a long course.

The causes of prolonged course may be exacerbation of chronic foci of respiratory tract infection, for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The most common causes of cough

Sharp:

• Viral infection of the respiratory tract

• Bacterial infection

• Aspiration of a foreign body

• Inhalation of toxic gases, dust

Subacute:

• Post-infectious cough (influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, whooping cough)

Chronic:

• Cough in upper respiratory tract diseases (acute or chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis)

• Cough variant of bronchial asthma

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

• Taking antihypertensive medications

It is also clinically accepted to divide cough into:

• unproductive, i.e. dry,

• productive when phlegm begins to appear.

Further treatment tactics will depend on which cough is bothering the patient. It is important whether the patient complains of a dry (unproductive) cough or a wet (productive) cough with sputum, what he coughs up, what color is the sputum, what color is the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract.

Most often, cough is associated with inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis), trachea (tracheitis)It can be dry (unproductive). Cough with bronchitis is most often productive and has a characteristic deep sound.

A cough that lasts for more than 2-3 weeks requires special attention in order not to miss bronchitis or pneumonia. It is worth noting that pneumonia can occur atypically, without a clear picture of intoxication and an obvious deterioration in the condition, and, for example, accompanied by a dry cough and a subfebrile temperature of about 37 degrees for 2-3 weeks. In this case, a mandatory consultation with a doctor and a decision on the issue of CT (computed tomography) of the lungs is required.

Various types of coughing can be triggered by mucus flowing down the back of the pharynx. The otorhinolaryngologist understands what this is related to in this situation (rhinitis, sinusitis, etc.).

Reflux, i.e. acid discharge from the stomach into the larynx, can also cause coughing. This often happens if the cough appears at night or after eating. In this case, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary, with further diagnosis and treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.

If the cough is accompanied by a change in voice, you may need to consult a phoniatrician. And if the cough often recurs for no apparent reason or has a certain frequency and seasonality, then you may need to consult an allergist.  

Don't self-medicate!

In the treatment recommendations, I would like to mention those common problems and features that you need to know in order for faster recovery.

Inhalation

It is recommended to use nebulizers (ultrasonic, compressor, electron mesh) for inhalation. Alkaline inhalations have a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. But it is not advisable to prescribe them yourself without knowing the location of the lesion. Often, inhalations carried out in the first 3-4 days after the onset of acute respiratory viral infections can contribute to the spread of the infectious process.

For proper inhalation, a doctor's appointment is necessary.

Ginger and lemon

If the back of the pharynx is irritated or the cough is associated with reflux, then with heavy consumption of drinks with ginger and lemon, the cough may become more intense, as reflux symptoms will increase.

Rinsing

Gargling with alcohol solutions in high concentration and for a long time can lead to overdrying of the posterior pharyngeal wall, which can worsen a dry cough.

Mucoactive drugs

Fundamentally mucoactive drugs can be divided into: stimulating the production of mucus, diluting sputum and blocking the cough reflex. Each group of drugs has its own point of application, depending on the type of cough and the period of development of the disease. Accordingly, they need to be drunk in a certain order, as prescribed by a doctor.

For example, if cough reflex blockers are prescribed during a period when coughing is actively productive, then sputum will stagnate, which will noticeably worsen the course of the disease.

Herbal preparations

As a rule, they are actively used in the treatment of dry cough as expectorants. But you need to make sure that you are not allergic to specific herbal ingredients.

Honey

Honey is known to become toxic at a certain temperature. In addition, honey is a sweet medium that provokes the growth of bacteria. And again, do not forget about possible allergies.  

Drinking

When coughing, an alkaline drink is useful. For example, Borjomi. It is also useful to drink plenty of warm water, which helps to eliminate toxins. If you use drugs that dilute sputum, drinking is necessary. Otherwise, they don't work well.   

Author: phoniatrician, otorhinolaryngologist Zinaida Bogolepova