Cough illness

Cough illness

Definition

Coughing is one of the frequently expressed complaint of patients to doctors. Coughing is actually an important way for our body to clear our throat and respiratory tract. However, excessive coughing may mean that we have a disorder or disease.

There is a dry cough, there are also productive. Productive cough with phlegm. Also called sputum or phlegm reaction.

Cough can be acute or chronic.

Ø Acute cough usually begins suddenly. Often caused by colds, flu, or sinus infection (sinusitis). Acute cough usually goes away after 2 to 3 weeks.

Ø Chronic Cough usually lasts more than 2 to 3 weeks.

Common Cause

Besides the upper respiratory tract infection (ARI) such as influenza, the most common causes of cough are:

Allergies and asthma

Ø lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis, ephysema

Sinusitis leading to postnasal drip.

Pulmonary disease such as bronchiectasis, lung tumor.

Ø Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) this means that the stomach fluids back into the throat, people like belch sour or bitter.

Ø Smoking

Ø Exposure to cigarette smoke (passive smoking)

Ø Exposure to air pollutants

Ø High blood drug class ACE Inhibi

Gardening

Some tips for reducing cough:

Ø cough candies or peppermint can help in a dry, tickling cough. Should not be given to children under 3 years old due to choking clog the airway.

Ø Inhale warm steam can help a dry cough by increasing humidity in the air.

Ø Drink more fluids to thin the mucus in the throat so easily coughed out.

Some cough medicines can be bought without a prescription, including those containing:

Ø Guaifenesin (expectorant Cohistan, Probat, Bisolvon Extra, Actifed expectorant, etc.). The thing to remember is if you take drugs containing Guaifenesin is to drink plenty of water.

Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine Ø (Actifed, Actifed expectorant, Disudrin, Clarinase, Rhinos SR, Triaminic, etc.). Medicines containing pseudoephedrine can be used to stop a cold liquid (runny) and postnasal drip. Should not be used if there is high blood pressure or for children under 6 years of age unless prescribed by your doctor.

Although coughing can be annoying symptoms, but coughing is the way our body to heal itself. Some experts these days recommend not using the retaining cough in some situations. We recommend that you consult with your doctor before trying the-counter cough holder containing dextromethorphan (Vicks 44, etc.).

Do not expect a doctor to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections such as influenza or colds. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Antibiotics do not speed healing of cough caused by allergies.

Contact your doctor if

Immediately to the emergency department if:

O Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Hives or swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing

Immediately to your doctor if:

Ø A cough that begins suddenly great.

Ø Cough with high pitch sound when breathing.

Ø bloody cough.

Ø Fever (which may may indicate a bacterial infection requiring antibiotics).

Ø Sputum is a thick, foul-smelling, greenish-yellow colored (indicating the presence of a bacterial infection).

Ø Exposure to someone with tuberculosis.

Ø Weight loss is not expected or night sweats (may indicate tuberculosis).

Ø Cough more than 10-14 days.

Ø cough in infants younger than 3 months.

What would your doctor do?

In emergency cases, patients will be treated first to stabilize the condition. After a stable condition, the doctor will ask you things about your cough. The questions may be asked by your doctor:

Ø Is coughing up blood (how much, how often, how long).

Ø Is coughing up phlegm? How sputum, are thick and tough coughed?

Ø Is the cough severe? Is the cough dry?

Ø Does this sound like a barking cough?

Ø How does the pattern of coughing? Is the onset sudden? Is getting worse lately? Is the cough worse at night? Is the cough starts in the morning when you wake up?

Ø How long have cough?

Ø Is the cough worse when lying on one side?

Ø Does the periodic cough accompanied by vomiting?

Ø What other symptoms that accompany a cough? Is there shortness of breath, fever?

Then your doctor will perform a physical examination including checking the ears, nose, throat and chest.

Maybe your doctor will ask for additional checks such as:

Ø chest X-rays.

Ø Analysis of sputum (if coughing up phlegm).

Ø Test lung function

Ø Lung Scan

Ø Bronchoscopy.

Prevention

Do not smoke and do not be around smokers.

Ø If you have seasonal allergies try to stay indoors during the airborne allergens are high. If possible, keep the windows closed and use air conditioning. Avoid fans that draw air from outdoors. Shower and change clothes after being outdoors.

Ø If you have allergies year round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite, use of air cleaners (air purifier), and do not foster a pet, and avoid other triggers.