What does my cough type mean?

 There are many kinds of coughs.

 

Coughing is a way for your body to get rid of irritants.

When something irritates your throat or respiratory tract, your nervous system alerts your brain. Your brain responds by telling the muscles in your chest and abdomen to contract and expel a puff of air.

Coughing is an important defensive reflex that helps protect your body from the following irritants:

• goog_1524588976Mucus
• Smoking
• Allergens such as dust, mold, and pollen

Cough is a symptom of many diseases and conditions. Sometimes, the characteristics of the cough can give you clues to the cause.

Cough can be described in the following ways:

•     Behavior or experience. When and why does cough occur? Is it in the evening, after meals, or during exercise?
•     Characteristics. How does your cough sound or feel? Hack, wet or dry?
• Period. Does your cough last less than 2 weeks, 6 weeks, or more than 8 weeks?
•   Effect. Does your cough cause symptoms relate to urinary incontinence, vomiting, or insomnia?
•     Grade level. How bad is it? Is it annoying, persistent, or debilitating?

Sometimes, airway obstruction triggers the cough reflex. If you or your child has ingested something that may be blocking the airways, seek immediate medical attention. Signs of suffocation include:

• Blue skin
• Loss of consciousness
• Unable to speak or cry
• Wheezing, whistling, or other strange breathing sounds
• Cough weakness or ineffectiveness
• Panic

If you observe any of these signs, dial 911 and perform the Heimlich operation or CPR.

Wet cough

Wet cough, also known as a productive cough, is a cough that usually coughs up mucus.

A cold or flu usually causes a wet cough. They can appear slowly or quickly and may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• goog_1524588972Runny nose
• Postnasal drip
• A tired
  a wet cough sounds wet because your body is expelling mucus from the respiratory system, which includes:
• Larynx
• Nose
• Airway
• Lungs

If you have a wet cough, you may feel something stuck or drip in the back of your throat or chest. Some of your coughs can bring mucus into your mouth.

A wet cough can be acute, lasting less than 3 weeks, or it can be chronic, lasting more than 8 weeks in adults and more than 4 weeks in children. The duration of the cough can be an important clue to understanding its cause.

Conditions that may cause a wet cough include:

• goog_1524588970Cold or flu
• Pneumonia
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Acute bronchitis
• Asthma

Coughs in infants, toddlers, and children that last less than 3 weeks are almost always caused by a cold or flu.

Wet cough home remedies

• goog_1524588968  Babies and toddlers. Treat with a cold mist humidifier. You can also drip normal saline into the nasal cavity and then clean the nose with a spherical syringe. Do not give over-the-counter (OTC) cough or cold medicine to infants or young children under the age of 2
• Kids. A small clinical trial found that taking 11/2 teaspoons of honey half an hour before bedtime reduced cough and encouraged improved sleep in children 1 year of age and older. Use a humidifier to humidify the air at night. Consult your doctor before using over-the-counter cough and cold medicine as a treatment.
• Adults. Adults can treat acute wet coughs with over-the-counter cough and cold symptom relief medications or honey. If the cough persists for more than 3 weeks, antibiotics or other treatments may be required.

dry cough

A dry cough is a cough without mucus. You may feel an itch in the back of your throat, which triggers a cough reflex, resulting in a dry cough.

Dry cough is often difficult to control and can last a long time. Dry cough occurs because there is inflammation or irritation in the respiratory tract, but there is no excess mucus to cough up.

Dry cough is usually caused by an upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu.

In children and adults, it is common for a cold or flu to have a dry cough that persists for several weeks. Other possible causes of dry cough include:

goog_1524588966Laryngitis
Sore throat
Whew
Tonsillitis
Sinusitis
Asthma
Allergies
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Drugs, especially ACE inhibitors
Exposure to irritants such as air pollution, dust, or fumes

COVID-19 and dry cough

Dry cough is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Other visible signs of COVID-19 include fever and shortness of breath.

If you are sick and think you may have COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following:

• goog_1524588964Stay home and avoid public places
• Keep yourself as separate from all family members and pets as much as possible
• Cover your cough and sneeze
• If you have other people around you, wear a cloth mask
• Keep in touch with your doctor
• If you end up seeking medical assistance, please call in advance
• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid sharing household items with other people in the house
• Frequent disinfection of common surfaces
• Monitor your symptoms

You should seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• goog_1524588962Difficulty breathing
• Chest heavy or tight
• Blue lips
• Confused

Learn more on this COVID-19 resources page.

Home remedies for dry cough

The treatment of dry cough depends on its cause.

• Babies and toddlers. In infants and young children, the dry cough usually does not require treatment. Humidifiers can help them be more comfortable. To treat croup, take your child to a steam-filled bathroom or in the cool nighttime air.
•    
• Older kids. A humidifier will help prevent their respiratory system from drying out. Older children can also use cough potions to relieve a sore throat. If their condition persists for more than 3 weeks, discuss other causes with your doctor. Your child may need antibiotics, antihistamines, or asthma medicine.
• Adults. Chronic, persistent dry cough in adults can have many possible causes. Tell your doctor about symptoms such as pain and heartburn. You may need antibiotics, antacids, asthma medications, or further testing. Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you are currently taking.

Paroxysmal cough

Paroxysmal cough is a violent, intermittent cough with a sore throat. Paroxysmal coughing feels exhausting and painful. People have difficulty breathing and may vomit.

Whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that causes a severe cough.

During a whooping cough attack, the lungs release all the air, causing people to inhale violently with a "exhale" sound.

Infants are at higher risk of developing whooping cough and face more serious complications. For them, whooping cough can be life-threatening.

For those over 2 months, the best way to avoid contracting pertussis is to get vaccinated.

Whooping cough often causes paroxysmal cough. Other possible causes of cough include:

• goog_1524588959Asthma
• COPD
• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis
• Suffocation

Treatment of paroxysmal cough

People of all ages need antibiotics to treat whooping cough.

Whooping cough is highly contagious, so family members and caregivers of whooping cough patients should also be treated. The earlier whooping cough is treated, the better the effect.

cough

Croup is a viral infection that usually affects children 5 years of age and younger.

Croup can cause irritation and swelling of the upper respiratory tract. The airways of young children are already narrower. When swelling further narrows the airway, breathing becomes difficult.

The roar causes a characteristic "barking" cough that sounds like a seal. Swelling in and around the speech box can also lead to hoarseness and creaky breathing sounds.

Croup is terrible for both children and parents. Children may:

• goog_1524588957Breathing struggle
• Make a sharp noise when inhaling
• Breathing very fast

In severe cases, children can become pale or blue.

Home remedies for cough

Croup usually spreads on its own without treatment. Home remedies include:

• goog_1524588955Put a cold mist humidifier in their bedroom
• Bring your child into a steam-filled bathroom for up to 10 minutes
• Take your kids out to breathe in the cool air
• Take your child for a ride, with the windows partially open to allow cool air to circulate
• Give children acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed by their pediatrician to treat fever
• Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids and gets plenty of rest
• For severe cases, children may need nebulizer breathing therapy or prescription steroids to reduce inflammation

When to see a doctor

Many coughs do not require a doctor. It depends on the type and duration of the cough, as well as a person's age and health.

People with other lung conditions, such as asthma and COPD, may need treatment earlier or more frequently than others.

Children with a cough should see a doctor if:

• Cough for more than 3 weeks
• Fever in children over 102°F (38.89°C) or any 2 months and younger
• Breathless, unable to speak or walk
• Turn blue or pale
• Dehydrated or unable to swallow food
• Very tired
• Make a "whining" sound during a violent cough attack
• In addition to coughing and wheezing

Call 911 if your child is:

• Loss of consciousness
• Unable to wake up
• Too weak to stand

Adults with a cough should contact a doctor if:

• Cough for more than 8 weeks
• Cough up blood
• Fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
• Too weak to talk or walk
• Severe dehydration
• Make a "whining" sound during a violent cough attack
• In addition to coughing and wheezing
• Daily acid reflux or heartburn, or cough in general, which interferes with sleep

If you are an adult, call 911:

• Loss of consciousness
• Unable to wake up
• Too weak to stand

summary

There are many kinds of coughs. The characteristics, duration, and severity of the cough may indicate the cause. Cough is a symptom of many diseases and can be caused by a variety of diseases.