1. Introductory remarks
An important thing to understand about coughs is that its presence in persons per se is not bad for it performs a healthy function of clearing one’s throat and airways from time to time. It is only excessive coughing that persists for a long time, typically even after three weeks, that need to be attended to immediately for the symptoms could relate to some underlying serious diseases requiring attention by your physician and or ENT specialist. Coughs are of two types, acute and chronic and are also classified as productive and dry. The acute one could indicate the onset of a cold or flu and would go away within a maximum of three weeks with minimum medications that too aimed at reducing the discomfort. The chronic ones need proper attention for they could indicate any underlying disease. In other words, it is the dry cough that needs prompt attention.
2. Causes and symptoms
Acute ones could be caused by infections in upper airways. Other causes could be allergies, asthma, a Lung infection may be indication pneumonia, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as Emphysema, Gastroesophegal reflux disease, inhalation of pollutants, and drug induced causes particularly in those who are being treated with ACE inhibitors for the control of high blood pressure.
Symptoms could be sudden indicating the arrival of a cold or flu, otherwise throwing out blood, thick foul-smelling yellowish-green phlegm indicating a severe infection, coughing more when lying or lying on one side, unexplained weight gain or loss and anything that lasts beyond three weeks. Lightheadedness, dizziness and other such discomforts could also show themselves out.
3. Treatment
To start with you need to understand cough in itself is not a disease but an indication of an underlying disease. So long your physician is sure that it is due to a temporary infection, cough suppressants, syrup (expectorants) should suffice. But when it is beyond that, a test may be needed and wide array of them are available as Bronchoscopy, Lung Scan, Pulmonary function tests, Sputum analysis and even X-ray tests. The treatments would have to be decided only by a qualified medical practitioner.
4. Concluding remarks
Prevention is better cure. Please avoid smoking; if you are the one who is prone to be affected by hay fever, avoiding airborne allergens to the extent possible should be avoided. Some home care measures as covering the pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, using an air purifier etc could help. While a coughing in children is also a normal phenomenon, the most critical care you should take is not to administer them aspirin at any cost to those who are under 18 for it could cause a serious condition named Reye syndrome which is life threatening.