Cough
Coughing is your body’s reflexive response to get rid of mucus and allergens like smoke or dust. It rarely indicates a significant problem.
Most coughs go away on their own in three weeks without any medical intervention.
When a cough is dry, it produces no mucus (phlegm) and is itchy. When you cough up phlegm, it helps to clear your airways.
Giving up smoking will probably make your cough better. Learn more about quitting smoking.
Why 20 minutes in the sun improves immunity, gut health and sleep
Cough self-help manual
Check your symptoms and learn what to do next by completing our self-help guide.
Prior to utilizing this manual
If you are making an inquiry on someone else’s behalf, kindly confirm that the individual is:
aware of you and reacting appropriately
If not, request an ambulance by calling 999.
When to consult a doctor
Consult your physician’s office if:
- is less than three months old and its temperature is 38°C or higher
- is more than three months old and has a temperature of at least 39°C
- has fewer wet diapers, drier-looking diapers than normal, or more than 12 hours of dry diaper use.
- isn’t improving after a few days
is taking less than half of what they usually take during the last two or three feedings. If your doctor is closed, call 111.
Consult your physician’s office if:
- You’ve been coughing for longer than three weeks.
- You have a really bad cough.
- You produce bloody cough.
- if have any other concerning symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in your voice, lumps or swellings in your neck, or you feel shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, or chest pain.
- Do you exhibit any other concerning signs or symptoms, such an inexplicable loss of weight, a continuous alteration in your voice, or lumps or swellings around your neck?
Your doctor might recommend you to a specialist if they are unclear of the cause of your cough. In addition, they could ask for certain tests, like an X-ray of the chest, breathing tests, allergy tests, and a sample of your sputum to be analyzed for infections.
Cough treatment
Short-term coughs are usually caused by a viral infection that will clear up on its own in a few weeks, so treatment isn’t necessarily required.
Actions you can do to alleviate your symptoms
- Do relax
- hydrate well with plenty of water.
- use analgesics like ibuprofen or paracetamol; always follow the manufacturer’s directions
Pharmacy care
For information on coughs and cough remedies, consult a pharmacist.
Cough medications and treatments
There is no proof that cough medications are effective.
Children under the age of six shouldn’t be given over-the-counter cough and cold remedies. Children (6 to 12 years old) should only use them under a doctor’s or pharmacist’s recommendation.
A homemade cure made with lemon and honey will probably work just as well and be safer to ingest. Babies younger than one year old should not be given honey.
Taking care of the root cause
Treating the underlying cause of your cough may be helpful. As an illustration:
- Inhaled steroids can be used to treat asthma by reducing airway inflammation.
- Antihistamines and avoiding the things you’re allergic to are two ways to treat allergies.
- Antibcan be used to treat bacterial illnesses.
- Antacids to neutralize stoiotics mach acid and medication to lower stomach acid production are two treatment options for reflux, commonly known as GORD.
- Bronchodilators are a treatment for COPD that open up your airways.
What triggers a cough?
brief coughs
Typical reasons for a transient cough include:
- an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), such as a cold, the flu, laryngitis, sinusitis, or whooping cough, that affects the throat, windpipe, or sinuses
- an infection of the lower respiratory tract (LRTI) that affects the lungs or lower airways, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis
- an allergy, such hay fever or allergic rhinitis
- an exacerbation of a chronic illness such bronchiectasis, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- inhaling smoke or dust
Coughing that never goes away
A chronic cough could be brought on by:
- asthma: this typically results in additional symptoms such wheezing, tightness in the chest, and dyspnea.
- a hypersensitivity
- Smoking: Another sign of COPD is a smoker’s cough.
- bronchiectasis, a condition in which the lungs’ airways enlarge abnormally
- bronchiectasis, a condition in which the lungs’ airways enlarge abnormally
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), a condition in which stomach acid irritates the throat
- a prescription medication, such as lisinopril or ramipril, which is used to treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Examples of ACE inhibitors include these two medications.
Generally speaking, if you are creating significantly more or darker phlegm than normal, a doctor will need to know.
Idiopathic coughs frequently have an unknown origin.
On rare occasions, a chronic cough may indicate a more serious illness like tuberculosis, heart failure, lung cancer, or pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs).
Children’s coughs
Children’s coughs may also be brought on by GORD, asthma, or respiratory tract infections.
Coughs in children are more common than in adults for the following reasons:
- bronchiolitis: a minor infection of the respiratory tract that typically results in symptoms similar to a cold
- croup – results in a child’s characteristic barking cough and a loud sound as they breathe in
- The symptoms of whooping cough include violent, hacking fits of coughing, vomiting, and a loud whoop sound made after each severe coughing fit.
A child’s chronic cough may occasionally indicate a serious long-term illness like cystic fibrosis.
