Infrequent dry cough. Dry cough: causes and effective treatments

Probably every person in his life experienced all the delights dry cough. In addition to unpleasant, and sometimes painful sensations, this type of cough exhausts the body very much.

Dry cough is a natural reaction of the human body (reflex) to an irritant in the respiratory system. These irritants are often allergens, infections, viruses, or foreign bodies in the airways.

Dry cough cannot be called a disease, as it is a symptom. Basically, a dry cough turns into a productive or wet one after a couple of days, but it happens that it has a protracted or chronic character.

To get faster get rid of dry cough , people turn to pharmacies and buy a medicine that the seller will advise them, or they begin self-medication with folk remedies. But before you take action, you need to know exactly cause of unproductive cough.

Causes of dry cough

A dry cough can mean a common cold or a serious illness, so be aware causes of dry cough it is very important that, in time to start to act. So, main reasons can be:

1. Colds, flu, SARS.
2. Bronchial asthma.
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
4. Bronchospasm or allergic cough.
5. Chronic allergic rhinitis.
6. Acute chronic bronchitis.
7. Adenoids.
8. Whooping cough.
9. Sinusitis.
10. Sinusitis.
11. Diphtheria, false croup (in children).
12. Pneumonia.
13. Pleurisy.
14. Tracheitis and tracheobronchitis.
15. Laryngitis and pharyngitis.
16. Oncological diseases of the respiratory system.
17. Sarcoidosis.
18. Aortic aneurysm.
19. Reflux esophagitis (GERD).
20. Congestive heart failure.
21. Tuberculosis.
22. Foreign object in the respiratory system.

How to treat dry cough

Before you start treat dry cough , first find out why it started. If an unproductive cough is caused by common colds or flu, it is enough to stay in bed, drink plenty of warm liquids, apply symptomatic therapy, and after a few days the dry cough will turn into a productive one with sputum. This will be a sign that the patient is on the mend.

But if, the usual methods of treating dry cough do not work or the disease continues more than 10 days, you should immediately go to the hospital , since this situation can mean a serious illness. The doctor will prescribe all the proper tests, and according to their results, will determine the course of treatment.

To cure dry cough First of all, we find out what exactly and how to treat. The most common causes are colds, flu and SARS, but you should definitely consult a doctor to rule out tuberculosis, oncology, heart disease and allergies.

When an unproductive cough appears, it is required to start taking antitussive drugs, and during coughing fits, dissolve mints or sweets, or special antitussive drugs. Cold remedies are effective if they are started in the first three days of a cold, after this period their use is completely pointless.

If the doctor diagnoses the addition of a bacterial infection, then the patient is prescribed antibiotics.

It is also necessary to remember about plentiful warm drink - tea, milk with honey, linden, raspberries and Borjomi water. The more liquid the patient consumes, the faster he recovers. When a dry cough begins to turn into a productive one, the drugs should be changed to expectorant and mucolytic drugs.

So, what to do with dry cough to get rid of it faster? In answering this question, it is necessary consider several parameters.

one). How long has the cough bothered you? That is, we find out whether it has the character of an acute disease or a chronic one.

2). Are there any causes of coughing? For example, allergens, cough, lying down, nervous cough, hypothermia.

So in people who suffer from bronchial asthma, the appearance of a dry cough is a clear sign of contact with any allergen.

Coughing in a supine position most often indicates that a person has a weakened pumping function of the heart. When he lies down, the pressure in the pulmonary vessels rises significantly, which causes coughing fits.

Some people experience bouts of dry cough after emotional upheaval or severe nervous tension. Cough in this case occurs due to a violation of the nervous regulation of bronchial patency.

If a person knows that he was in a state of hypothermia, even if not for long, then a dry cough can mean the initial stage of pneumonia, so in such cases you should immediately go to the hospital.

3). Cough attacks are constant, or coughing occurs periodically, for example, only in the morning or at night.

So for those who are sick with bronchial asthma, coughing attacks usually occur in the morning from 3 to 5 in the morning. Cough, literally, suffocating with characteristic "whistling" and "wheezing" sounds.

Smokers tend to have bouts of coughing in the morning when they first get out of bed.
Very severe coughing fits in children, which sometimes even provoke vomiting, can be caused by whooping cough.

4). Whether the increase in body temperature is constant or intermittent.
An unproductive cough in combination with an increase in body temperature is a clear sign of an infectious disease, the treatment of which should be started as soon as possible. But even if the body temperature does not rise, you should not ignore the appeal to the doctor.

5). Whether unwashed fruits or vegetables were present in your diet.
Eating unwashed foods can lead to infection with worms, which can affect lung tissue. So, if you have a cough reflex after such a snack, contact a medical institution to make sure that there is no worm in the body, and if there is, then start treatment on time.

6). Does a person have a pathology of the digestive organs.
If coughing begins in a horizontal position, bending forward, during periods of wearing a tight belt, then we can talk about gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is a pathology of the digestive system, which is an insufficiency of the muscle pulp, as a result of which the exit from the stomach remains slightly ajar.

Therefore, at a certain position of the body, gastric juice can enter the respiratory tract, and provoke irritation of the bronchial mucosa.

7). Does the person experience periodic weakness, weight loss, sweating. Such symptoms may occur due to compression of the large bronchi by enlarged lymph nodes. Such a process can occur with blood diseases or tuberculosis.

What to do with dry cough

So, having dealt with all the characteristic features of a cough, you can begin to act in order to get rid of cough . If the cough is allergic in nature, then, of course, it is recommended to stop contacting the allergen. If this is not possible, then you need to consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and prescribe an antiallergic drug.

If there is a suspicion that coughing is caused by problems with the cardiovascular system, you need to urgently go to the hospital, because simple medicines will not help here. In this case, doctors will prescribe a set of examinations, and then determine the complex of treatment.

A smoker's cough can be relieved in two ways - by quitting smoking or by trying expectorant medicines to help rid the lungs of soot and tar. But the treatment in this case is nominal, because smoking, in itself, causes irreparable harm to the respiratory system, leads to the most dangerous complications and oncology.

At first, the smoker's cough torments only in the morning, then it becomes systematic, and the attacks can be very strong. Even those who quit smoking at first continue to suffer from coughing, because it takes time for the body to clear itself.

If the cough is accompanied by fever or the appearance of weakness, then you should not self-medicate. These symptoms, in combination with a dry cough, can signal serious infectious diseases, tuberculosis, and oncology.

Naturally, each of us, having fallen ill, experiences some kind of malaise, weakness, fatigue, and in most cases they do not consider it necessary to go to the clinic with these symptoms, but the consequences of inaction can be the most deplorable. It's better to make sure everything is in order than to waste valuable time.

How to treat dry cough in an adult

To successfully treat dry cough in adults , you need to correctly establish the diagnosis, and then follow the doctor's instructions. The main complex of drugs that are usually prescribed to combat dry cough are antitussive drugs, and if there is a need, then antibiotics. But there are also generally accepted measures, the observance of which contributes to a speedy recovery. General recommendations are :

• Sufficiently humid air in the room where the patient is located.
• Warm drink.
• Sucking on lozenges to relieve coughing fits.
• Inhalations, chest and foot massage.
• If the cough is allergic, then be sure to drink antihistamines.
• If a person suffering from a dry cough smokes, then it is worth, at least for a while, to abandon this habit.

In no case should you take antitussive and expectorant medications at the same time, as clogging of the bronchi with sputum may occur.

You can also try to relieve dry cough with the help of public funds:

1. Drink more hot milk with honey or mineral water.
2. Finely chop the onion, add to it 2 tbsp. tablespoons of sugar and leave overnight. In the morning you need to drink the resulting juice, and eat the gruel during the day.
3. Make a hole in a black radish tuber and fill it with honey, and after a couple of hours you can start taking the juice that forms in the hole. You need to drink juice for 1 tsp. 4 times a day before meals.
4. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a glass, add 2 tbsp. l. glycerin, and add honey to a full glass. Drink 1 tsp. 4-6 times during the day.

Dry cough is a very unpleasant thing, because it brings a lot of inconvenience and discomfort to everyone who suffers from it, and especially to children. To get started treat dry cough in children , it is necessary to find out the root cause of its occurrence. You should not risk the health of children and self-medicate, because children are the most expensive thing.

Dry cough in children can be very intrusive and painful, so you should not ignore it. If the cough is catarrhal, then it is enough to observe bed rest, drink warm drinks, apply rubbing and inhalation. If the treatment requires more serious drug therapy, then it is important for parents not to forget about the need to strictly follow the recommendations of the doctor. dosages of all drugs .

How to treat dry cough in a child

To cure a dry cough in a child, parents are advised follow some advice that will help to cope with this disease. So:

• Provide a comfortable environment in the room - air temperature 20-22 ° C and humidified air. Also, it is advisable to check that in the room where the sick baby is located, there are no extraneous odors that can cause irritation.
• Try to ensure maximum adherence to bed rest.
• With an unproductive cough, you can do warm compresses on the chest, but then the child must be dressed warmly.
• You can steam your baby's legs in a hot tub.
• It is recommended to periodically breathe warm, moist air - you need to take the baby to the bathroom and turn on the hot shower so that he breathes.
• It is highly recommended to give children plenty of warm drinks.
• Follow a diet - give liquid milk porridge, mashed potatoes with milk. Be sure to eliminate all irritating foods.
• Be sure to follow all the appointments of the attending pediatrician - regimen, medication, dosage.

How to treat dry cough in a child

Also, with the appearance of a dry cough in a child, you can use effective folk remedies . Treat a dry cough in a child such methods are much safer than giving strong drugs.

1. Wrapping with sunflower oil - moisten a small piece of cotton cloth with oil and put it on the baby's chest, wrap it with a film and wrap it up. Let the baby sleep like this all night.
2. Inhalations with ode and garlic - boil two glasses of water, add chopped garlic, remove from the stove and add 1 tsp. soda. Then cover yourself with a towel and breathe.
3. Mix 100 g butter and 100 g honey. Give 1 tsp. 4 times a day before meals.
4. Inhalations with mint, cedar, lavender and eucalyptus oils.
5. Brew 20 g of elecampane in 250 g of water and boil for 10 minutes, then let it brew for 4 hours and give the child 4 times 1 tbsp. before eating.
6. A decoction of needles in water or milk. Syrup on water - 5 tsp needles pour 500 g of boiling water and leave for 3 hours, then boil for 3-5 minutes, strain. Add 300 g of sugar to the broth and cook until it becomes thick. Give children 1 tsp. 5 times a day.

Needles in milk - 50 g of pine buds pour 500 g of milk and cook for 20 minutes. Give your baby a few sips to drink throughout the day. This amount of decoction should be enough for 2 days.

How to cure a dry cough in a child

So to cure dry cough in child First of all, contact your pediatrician to determine the root cause of the disease. Adhere to all therapeutic measures and doctor's prescriptions. But most importantly, surround the child with care and warmth, because a sick baby feels a lot of fears and discomfort, so parental love for him is the most necessary treatment.

Dry cough, also known as non-productive cough, has various causes. It can be in both adults and children.

For the treatment of dry cough, drugs are mainly used that suppress cough due to a direct effect on the cough reflex. That is, this is not a treatment as such, but a symptomatic therapy aimed at reducing cough, this approach is effective, because in this situation the cough reflex does not benefit the body, and even vice versa, it can give a complication in the form of pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum.

Suppress (cure) dry cough in adults in different ways, each of which can be combined with each other.

Symptom Definition

Most often, coughing is accompanied by colds. Dry cough is unproductive, it is painful and is accompanied by severe sore throat, but there is no sputum.

Depending on the duration, the cough is divided into four types: acute (less than two weeks), protracted (two to four weeks), subacute (one to two months) and chronic (longer than two months).

With proper treatment, attacks of dry cough occur less and less, and it turns into a wet one. Mucus and sputum begin to stand out. But if a dry cough does not go away, then you need to contact a specialist and change the tactics of therapy. Pathological dry cough is accompanied by symptoms such as hoarseness in the voice, nausea, runny nose and nasal congestion, shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, weakness.

Varieties of cough

If you listen to the cough, you can hear its different shades and varieties. There are several types:

1. Whooping cough is characterized by multiple coughing shocks, which are accompanied by a deep breath with a whistling sound.
2. If it is not too intrusive, with short coughs, then it is called pharyngeal. At the same time, the mucous membrane of the pharynx dries up or mucus accumulates at the entrance to the larynx.
3. When you hear low tones with a gradual increase, then this may be a symptom of tuberculosis.
4. A barking cough appears with laryngitis and tracheitis. It occurs during the inflammatory process of the vocal cords. If a barking dry cough is joined by labored bubbling breathing, then these are manifestations of croup.
5. Spasmodic cough speaks of bronchial asthma. He is unproductive and obsessive. He appears closer to the morning. This condition may indicate obstructive bronchitis, but without a series of attacks.
6. During a cold, a whooping cough of an obsessive nature may appear.
7. The metallic shade of a dry cough that appears when talking, while eating, may indicate a mental disorder, but this is diagnosed only after a serious examination.

Causes of a strong cough

Various factors can provoke a strong dry cough in an adult. These include:

1. Stressful situations and emotional experiences.
2. Allergic reactions.
3. Smoking, when tobacco tar irritates the bronchi.
4. Dust that causes irritation in the respiratory tract.
5. A foreign body, when it comes into contact with the mucous membrane, has an irritating effect.
6. Heart failure.
7. Adverse drug reaction.
8. Oncological diseases.
9. Diseases of the thyroid gland.
10. Problems in the stomach and intestines, when a fistula of the esophago-tracheal region is formed and a reflex dry cough appears after eating.

Dry cough without fever in an adult

Rarely, infectious infections for the human body go unnoticed. However, in our region there are still diseases that form and disappear without an increase in body temperature. For example:

• parapertussis, which causes an obsessive non-productive cough at night;
• rhinovirus rhinitis (runny nose), which provokes frequent coughing from exudate flowing into the throat;
• atypical flu of the most common H1N1 subtype, bringing prolonged bouts of "barking" unproductive perspiration.

Dry cough without fever in an adult is also formed when:

• oncology;
• asthma and pericarditis;
• dry pleurisy and pneumothorax;
• thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery;
• relatively weak chemical poisoning;
• aspiration (sucking) of foreign bodies;
• taking specific medications;
• gastroesophageal reflux (reverse movement of the contents of the stomach to the throat);
• helminthic invasions.

Dry choking cough

The occurrence of a choking cough can be caused by many factors. Often this happens when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, and the allergen irritates the mucous membrane. More often, the symptom indicates a serious illness, which include:

• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• heart failure;
• pharyngitotracheitis;
• tuberculosis;
• whooping cough;
• oncological diseases;
• laryngitotracheitis

Such a cough is often observed in smokers with experience. Left untreated, chronic bronchitis can lead to secondary tuberculosis.

Diagnostics

A strong cough in an adult can be a symptom of a whole range of diseases. To accurately determine what a particular patient is sick with, doctors use a number of diagnostic methods:

1. A group of classical physical examination methods that the doctor will use if, for example, you call him to the house: external examination of the patient, percussion, auscultation; palpation of the chest.
2. Collecting an anamnesis, which involves a wide variety of questions from the presence of allergies to the identification of relatives with tuberculosis.
3. Fluorography is the simplest, cheapest and most informative method for determining the condition of the lungs and bronchial tree. It is currently used as a screening device for the detection of tuberculosis and oncological diseases. Fluorography is necessary every year for every person.
4. Spirography - testing the functional state of the respiratory system as a whole.
5. Bronchoscopy is a specific and informative method that is performed for a more accurate diagnosis.
6. Bacteriological analysis of the discharge, if any, followed by inoculation on nutrient media to determine sensitivity to antibiotics.

Overview of cough medicines

All drugs known today are divided into three groups in terms of their action:

If all of the above medicines fail, and the cough becomes prolonged, debilitating, then the doctor may prescribe Ethylmorphine, Oxeladine, Codeine, Butamirate, and other similar prescription drugs.

Dry cough treatment

Successful treatment of dry cough in adults that does not go away for a long time is based on an accurate diagnosis and elimination of the causes of each of them. All therapeutic measures are carried out under the close supervision of a doctor!

The general principles of relief include:

• air humidification in the room;
• plentiful warm drink;
• resorption of lozenges (not necessarily based on herbal medicinal components), since such a process stimulates the activity of the glands and the swallowing of saliva, which reflexively facilitates a coughing fit;
• saline inhalation.

To thin sputum in bronchitis, tablets and mucolytics (Ambroxol, Carbocisteine, ACC) can be used, while in young children their use is strictly prohibited, and expectorants (Mukaltin, Solutan).

Unproductive, debilitating, prolonged, paroxysmal - may require the appointment of the following cough medicines: mono- (Sinekod) or combined drugs (Stoptussin), as well as more serious drugs (Codeine).

With a confirmed bacterial nature of an infectious disease, appropriate antibiotics are prescribed (penicillin (Amoxicillin) or cephalosporin (Ceftriaxone) for staphylococcal or streptococcal infections, macrolides (Azithromycin, Clarithromycin) for chlamydia or mycoplasma).

Homeopathic and herbal remedies for dry cough:

1. Stodal is another time-tested remedy to treat dry cough in adults quickly and inexpensively. The medicine has no contraindications, and an adult needs to take 15 mg up to 3 times a day.
2. Bronchipret is a time-tested cough reflex syrup. Treatment is allowed even for pregnant women, and the list of contraindications is minimal. If you take a single dose at night, the desired relief comes in the morning. Recommended 20 drops three times a day.
3. Herbion is a vegetable syrup for wet cough, which is approved for use by adults and children. Plantain extract separates phlegm, increases the protective properties of immunity. Take 2 scoops at a time for 3-5 sets per day.

Dry cough medicine to loosen phlegm:

1. Bronchicum is an expectorant for dry cough, which is available in the form of a sweet syrup. Take a teaspoon up to 4 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
2. Cofanol is a combined preparation of plant origin. If a dry cough appears in an adult, it is advisable to take 2 tablets up to 4 times a day.
3. Terkodin is another answer to the question of what to drink with a dry cough in adults. The drug dilutes sputum, the daily dose is 2 pills up to 3 times a day.

Approximate price of some funds:

• Ambroxol - 40 - 540 rubles;
• Erespal - 212 - 253 rubles;
• Herbion - 145 - 340 rubles;
• Stoptussin - 49 - 125 rubles;
• Sinekod - 170 - 642 rubles;
• Bronholitin - 53 - 90 rubles;
• Amoxicillin - 10 - 846 rubles;
• Ceftriaxone - 13 - 477 rubles;
• Clarithromycin - 22 - 1487 rubles.

Dry cough in adults always has a specific cause. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a thorough preliminary examination, according to the results of which adequate treatment will be prescribed.

What to do at home?

The success of a therapeutic intervention is mutually related to the establishment of a diagnosis and the elimination of causative factors. All measures should be carried out strictly under the supervision of the treating specialist. In fact, the treatment is a symptomatic therapy aimed at reducing the reflex. Because in this situation there is a risk of complications.

Here are some general fundamental features of the therapy:

1. Carrying out regular wet cleaning in the patient's room;
2. Ensuring control of the air temperature in the house (the main condition is not higher than 22 C);
3. The imposition of appropriate medical processes on the chest;
4. Using a rational drinking regimen (it is best to drink tea, water, borjomi, milk in a warm form);
5. Non-use of aggressive detergents;
6. The implementation of inhalations through steam, while baking soda, herbal decoctions are added to the water;
7. Compliance with the principle of a special diet food with a sufficient number of calories.

There are many pharmaceutical products, these products have a central and peripheral effect, but folk remedies are considered the most effective. They are also good in terms of application safety.

Folk remedies

A great way to cure a strong dry cough in adults at home, if there is no temperature, is warming up in a Russian bath using medicinal herbs, coniferous plants.

It is useful to breathe infusion, taken in equal proportions of plants (2 tablespoons, boil in 2 liters of water for 10 minutes):

• chamomile, pine shoots, thyme, sage, eucalyptus shoots;
• birch leaves, shoots of spruce, juniper, black currant, thyme, sage, lemon balm;
• St. John's wort, meadowsweet, mint, chamomile, sage, pine buds.

A bath for an adult who does not have heart disease gives a double healing effect - warming up in combination with inhalation of humid warm air.

To soften sputum, improve its discharge, inhalations with soda, chamomile, coltsfoot are used. Adults can use recipes that include components that enhance blood circulation - pepper, ethyl alcohol.

• mix 2 tablespoons - honey with vodka;
• add egg yolk, mix;
• drink 1 teaspoon before meals three times a day.

An adult will be helped by a medicine with milk, which contains onions and garlic. To prepare the remedy, you need:

• boil an onion with 1 head of garlic in 0.25 l of milk;
• add 1 teaspoon honey, mint juice;
• drink every hour 1 tablespoon.

Antitussive action has coltsfoot, calendula and licorice. Honey is an effective remedy. It has a beneficial effect on the throat, enveloping it and reducing the manifestation of the symptom. Honey can be used both on its own and as part of a drink. To do this, the main ingredient is melted in a glass of warm milk. Honey together with grape juice accelerates the process of expectoration.

Inhalations on a potato steam can not only eliminate a cough, but also a runny nose. To improve the effect, a few drops of fir oil are added to boiled potatoes.

Steam inhalations based on mineral water have a beneficial effect on the human respiratory system. Enhances the effect of lavender, mint and cedar oils. A good action is characterized by a decoction of chamomile and sage.

Prevention

The best prevention of dry cough is a healthy lifestyle and the rejection of bad habits:

1. Drink more fluids.
2. Observe labor safety conditions. If at work you encounter occupational hazards, then always use personal protective equipment - gas masks, masks, etc.
3. Temper, try not to get sick with colds or prevent their complications.
4. Humidify the air in the room where you stay for a long time. The air should be cool, however, you should not abuse air conditioners, and even more so be under it when it works.
5. Avoid exposure to allergens if you know they exist.

If you smoke, then you need to stop it. Do not be in the same room as smokers. It is also recommended to stop taking alcoholic beverages, which severely injure the larynx.

Cough is a natural reflex process. This is an absolutely normal and even necessary physiological phenomenon. But, at the same time, it is a symptom of about fifty diseases. How to determine the root cause of a cough? How to treat a strong dry cough in adults? Which drugs should be preferred and which should not be used in any case? How to prevent the development of the pathological process? About this and everything related to dry cough in this article.

Causes and symptoms of dry cough

Most respiratory diseases begin with a dry cough. Normally, after a few days, it turns into a productive one. But sometimes this transition is delayed. And in some cases it lasts for months.

What is a cough like?

In medicine, there is such a division of cough by duration:

• acute - up to a week, maximum two;
• protracted - up to three months;
• chronic - over three months.

Only an acute cough should not cause concern. After a few days from the onset of the disease, it disappears or becomes wet. A prolonged and severe dry cough is alarming for both the patient and the doctor. It is highly undesirable for it to become chronic.

Dry cough differs from productive cough in the absence of sputum. It is almost always preceded by a slight perspiration and dryness in the throat. Distinctive features: barking character, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, worse at night. Dry cough interferes with sleep, it is accompanied by insomnia, headache, anxiety. He's exhausting. Strongly depletes the immune and nervous systems.

Let's try to figure out what can cause a dry cough in an adult patient, and in what cases it is necessary to sound the alarm. Let's make a reservation right away that any health problems, even a common cold, are a good reason to see a doctor. The causes of dry cough can be different.

Causes associated with inflammatory processes in the respiratory system.

Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, coughing is both a response and a protective reaction of the body. Its presence is an alarm signal and, at the same time, a mechanism for clearing the respiratory tract from pathogenic mucus. In addition to coughing, all other forces of the body are mobilized. If this does not help, the doctor prescribes antibiotics or antiviral drugs.

Cough with SARS and colds passes quickly. Sometimes it is present as a residual phenomenon against the background of a visible recovery. But this also does not last long. However, it is not uncommon for a dry cough to drag on. There are several reasons:

• weakened and depleted by the infection of the immune system;
• ignoring the patient's doctor's advice;
• too dry air in the room or the presence of some kind of chemical irritant;
• bad habits.

But there is another danger. This is the addition of a bacterial infection and the development of bronchitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, etc. As a rule, other symptoms appear in this case, and body temperature often rises.

Causes of dry cough, not associated with inflammatory processes.

There are many diseases in which there is also a cough, but there is no inflammatory process in the body.

An allergic cough is caused by the presence of an allergen. The latter may be of a different nature. These are chemical irritants, house dust, plant pollen, fragrance, animal hair, food product, etc. It is very important to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold. Here are some signs:

• the emergence, as it were, out of nothing, out of the blue, instantly after contact with the allergen;
• long course without other visible symptoms;
• sometimes other symptoms are still present: a runny nose, watery eyes, skin rashes, swelling, dry throat, redness, and even vomiting.

• Household intoxication differs from allergies in a single occurrence. The person inhaled exhaust fumes, or new furniture was just brought into the house, or cleaning was carried out with chlorine-containing preparations. The cough that accompanies a dry throat is short-term - it is only necessary to eliminate the source of air pollution. It is advisable to drink a glass of milk - a universal antidote.
• Professional cough as a reaction to substances in the air of the working area. If a worker in hazardous production is tormented by a recurrent unproductive cough, treatment should be started immediately. Delay can end badly. There is a risk of developing severe respiratory failure.
• Worm invasion. Ascaris larvae have the ability to migrate through the pulmonary circulation. There is a high probability of their getting into the lung tissue. The migratory period lasts 8-14 days, but the cough can last longer than this time.
• Bronchial asthma. It is wrong to consider this disease as just a pathology of the bronchi. Its nature is complex. There are problems of the immune and nervous systems, often there is an allergy. Dry cough paroxysmal, accompanied by suffocation.
• Esophageal-tracheal fistula, diverticula of the esophagus, reflux esophagitis are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by a dry reflex cough.
• Taking ACE inhibitor drugs in a fifth of patients causes a dry cough, which stops with the drug withdrawal.
• Smoking. Nicotine damages the respiratory mucosa, leading to chronic inflammation and persistent coughing.

Psychogenic cough.

There is another, special kind of cough, the cause of which is a psychogenic factor. Its signs:

• occurs during a stressful situation or for no apparent reason;
• obsessive and persistent;
• there is dryness in the throat;
• frequent, with a metallic sound;
• reminiscent of the barking of a dog or the cry of a geese;
• happens only during the day;
• aggravated in adverse psychological situations;
• not observed during meals and during a quiet conversation.

This is a psychogenic cough and it affects adults who are mentally and physically exhausted, experiencing frequent emotional stress. This can be facilitated by family troubles, illness of relatives, the loss of something valuable or someone close, strong feelings during the exam, the need to engage in some kind of public, but unpleasant activity for oneself. Psychogenic cough is difficult to treat, so it often drags on for months and years.

The patient needs to create favorable psychological conditions. And also protect him from heavy physical exertion. Develop a daily routine, alternate loads with rest. Listen to calm music, watch good movies, read interesting books, engage in creativity or just your favorite thing. In some cases, the patient may need the help of a psychotherapist. Aromatherapy helps a lot. Medicines, and even more so tranquilizers, are used only as a last resort.

Medical treatment of dry cough

To begin the treatment of dry cough in adults, the symptom must be diagnosed. Many methods are used for this:

• Radiography is the most common. On the radiographic picture, the doctor can see the foci of inflammation, the condition of the bronchial tree. Tuberculosis and neoplasms are also diagnosed by this method. But often it is impossible to do x-rays because of the radiation load on the body.
• Bronchography - radiography with a contrast agent in the bronchi.
• Body plethysmography - the main functional indicators of the nervous system are measured.
• Tussography. The intensity and temporal distribution of cough components are measured. It is used to study the dynamics of recovery.
• Bronchoscopy is one of the most informative methods. It is carried out using a bronchial probe. The picture is displayed on the computer monitor.
• Thorascopy. Through a puncture in the chest, a thorascope is inserted and the condition of the lungs is studied.
• Spirometry. According to the speed of exhaled air and its volume, bronchial and pulmonary diseases can be diagnosed at the initial stages.
• Tomography examines the lungs and bronchi in layers. A very informative method, but it carries a radiation load.

Only an accurate diagnosis allows you to decide how to treat a dry cough in an adult with a guarantee of quick relief from the underlying disease. In most cases, medication will be needed to get rid of the problem. To do this, use antitussive, expectorant, mucolytic, bronchodilator, combined drugs. Let's consider each group in detail.

Antitussive drugs

Dry cough depletes the patient's physical and moral strength, even if he is an adult and strong person. No other symptom is so hard to bear. Therefore, the only question that torments a person is how to soften the attacks. The assortment of pharmacies is replete with various antitussive drugs. The acquisition of any of them without medical advice is a serious mistake of the patient. In this case, only a specialist should decide how to treat a dry cough and choose a remedy that does not cause serious side effects.

Antitussive drugs act on the cough center of the brain or the nerve endings of the bronchi. The first are called drugs of central action, and the second - peripheral. Suppression, and even more so the relief of coughing, leads to the disappearance of the cough impulse. And if at the same time mucus has accumulated in the respiratory tract, then it will cease to be excreted and turn into a focus of infection.

Doctors distinguish several conditions in which antitussive drugs for dry cough are indicated for use:

• whooping cough;
• dry pleurisy;
• conditions during and after the operation;
• oncological diseases of the respiratory tract.

In all other cases, a dry cough is transferred to a wet one or more drugs and methods, which we will discuss below.

Expectorants

The main task of the doctor is to translate the cough from dry to productive. As soon as the cough stops being painful, and each cough ends with the expulsion of mucus, they speak of the beginning of recovery. For this purpose, expectorants are used. Their action is based on a decrease in the viscosity of sputum: the less thick it is, the more effective its evacuation from the bronchi, the lower the risk of secondary infection.

Expectorants for dry cough are divided into two groups: secretolytic and secretomotor action. The first are absorbed by the walls of the stomach, then enter the bronchial mucosa, increase the amount of secretion and reduce its viscosity.

Secretomotor preparations contain irritants of the nerve endings of the stomach. They activate the cough and vomiting centers, the contractility of the bronchial muscles increases, the villi of the ciliated epithelium work more actively and mucus is pushed out.

Expectorants have been known for a long time. In their composition, they have a small amount of chemicals. And mostly it is vegetable raw materials. The group of expectorants includes breast preparations, vegetable syrups, ointments and rubbing with essential oils. Some formulations are monocomponent, for example, plantain syrup.

Others, like breast collection, are multicomponent. They are more effective because they contain several ingredients of unidirectional, mutually reinforcing action. For many decades, breast collection for children based on licorice root and marshmallow continues to hold leadership among effective and practically no side effects remedies. But adult patients are also treated with success.

Mucolytic

Expectorants do their job well. But some conditions are accompanied by very thick, difficult to separate mucus. It is difficult to clear the bronchi from it. In this case, mucolytic agents come to the rescue. These are synthetic drugs that have a strong thinning effect and at the same time seriously increase the volume of mucus.

In adult patients with a weak cough impulse, the use of mucolytics is associated with the danger of "pulmonary flooding". In the absence of serious pathologies, they bring more serious relief and speed up the healing process. There are five types of mucolytics: acetylcysteine ​​(ACC), carbocysteine, bromhexine, ambroxol, mesna. But the pharmacy names of each of them are up to two dozen.

• ACC. The most popular ACC. It is a derivative of cysteine, an essential amino acid, which explains its safety for the body. The effect of taking ACC is fast and pronounced. A distinctive feature of this mucolytic is the ability to liquefy, with subsequent evacuation, even purulent sputum.
• Carbocysteine ​​is also considered a safe mucolytic. In addition, it reduces the hypersecretion of mucus.
• Bromhexine and Ambroxol. A feature of the action of these drugs is their ability to stimulate the production of surfactant - a mixture of surfactants that prevent the walls of the alveoli from sticking together, and this, in turn, normalizes the rheological properties of mucus. In addition, Ambroxol has immunomodulatory properties.
• Mesna is a very strong mucolytic. But it is used in exceptional cases, under strict control by the doctor and only for adult patients.

The use of mucolytics has a powerful therapeutic effect. But their use should be accompanied by kinesiotherapeutic procedures (postural drainage, massage, breathing exercises). The therapeutic effect of mucolytics can be enhanced by drugs that dilate the bronchi and stabilize the bronchial wall, that is, bronchodilators.

Bronchodilators

If one of the symptoms of the disease is bronchospasm, along with expectorants and mucolytics, bronchodilators are used to treat dry cough. They dilate the bronchi, stimulate the respiratory center of the brain.

Bronchodilators are available in various dosage forms - tablets, syrups, injections for parenteral administration, solutions for inhalation. The latter are very effective in the treatment of dry cough. It is better to apply them through a nebulizer. Bronchodilators are indicated even for very elderly patients with attacks of asthmatic cough.

Anti-inflammatory

One of the foundations for effective treatment of bronchitis and dry cough with it is taking anti-inflammatory drugs along with bronchodilators. This is no coincidence, because inflammation is the main pathological process in bronchitis.

Recently, many drugs have appeared that simultaneously have anti-inflammatory, bronchodilatory and anti-exudative properties. For example, Erespal, Bronchipret, Sinekod. They are available in the form of tablets or syrups. There are anti-inflammatory compounds for inhalation with a nebulizer. This, for example, is Rotokan based on herbal extracts or Interferon.

Other Therapies

At all times, non-drug methods have played an important role in the treatment of dry cough. These are inhalations, rubbing, compresses, teas. And, of course, physical therapy.

Folk recipes

Herbs. Many herbs have a mild ability to soften the throat with a dry cough: coltsfoot, marshmallow, licorice, plantain, St. John's wort, oregano, wild rosemary, calendula. Herbs in various combinations are poured with boiling water in the ratio of a tablespoon of the mixture to a glass of water, insisted on a water bath and drunk like tea.

Milk and honey. But the most effective folk remedy is milk with honey. Enveloping the mucous membrane, it relieves sore throat and scratching sensation. If we add a dessert spoon of soda to a glass of milk and a teaspoon of honey, we get an expectorant mixture. An even more powerful remedy can be obtained by boiling five figs in milk.

Radish with honey along with expectorant has anti-inflammatory properties. To prepare the medicine, a hole is made in the cavity of the fetus, a teaspoon of honey is placed in it, and left for several hours. Take up to four times a day, a tablespoon.

Onion. Do not forget about the healing properties of onions. Dry cough can be cured in a few days if you drink onion-honey syrup at night and in the morning after sleep. To do this, finely chopped onion is steamed in boiling water for 12 minutes. Mixed with a spoonful of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water. They drink quickly and wrap themselves warmly. In the morning the procedure is repeated. But you can't go outside after that.

Dry cough inhalation

The advantage of this type of treatment is that the active substances of the drugs act directly on the inflamed mucosa, soothing the cough. The procedures are well tolerated by both adults and children.

Inhalation with a nebulizer the most efficient. The device converts the active substances into very small particles and they can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract. With other methods of inhalation, this cannot be achieved.

With the help of a nebulizer, enter into the respiratory tract:

• Expectorants. For example, lazolvan or pulmozim.
• Minvoda or saline.
• Bronchodilators - berotek, atroven, berodual.
• Antiseptic agents - decasan, chlorophyllipt.
• Antibiotics - fluimucil.
• Phytocompositions, for example, rotokan.

Which drug to use, only a doctor can advise.

Alkaline inhalations with dry cough and sore throat, the most affordable, cheap and at the same time effective. Take a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. This solution is placed in a teapot, cooled to 60 degrees and breathed through a paper funnel inserted into the spout of the teapot. In the pharmacy you can buy a ready-made solution for inhalation "Soda-buffer". It is used both as a filler for inhalers, and in the old grandmother's way, described by us.

Oil inhalations eliminate swelling of the mucous membranes, dryness in the throat, have an antiseptic and expectorant effect. Rosehip, pine, eucalyptus, peppermint, sea buckthorn, peach oils are used. Before use, the oil is heated in a water bath to 38 degrees.

Heat-moist inhalations made with decoctions of medicinal herbs. Those listed above are suitable for folk cough recipes. Chlorophyllipt gives a good effect. Breathe over a solution of herbs for 5 minutes, covering your head with a terry towel.

Gargle

Gargling is effective if the inflammation is localized in the upper sections of the bronchopulmonary tree or in the larynx. More than 70% of pathogenic microorganisms die during the procedure. But when deciding how to treat a dry cough, we rarely remember this simplest procedure. But you need to start at the first signs of the disease.

• Salt and soda. The use of a solution of a teaspoon of salt and / or a teaspoon of soda with iodine (3-5 drops per glass of water) is the most ancient and very effective means of relieving dry cough. The procedure helps to clear the throat of mucus, relieve inflammation, soften the mucosa. Rinsing is carried out 5 times a day. It is no longer possible, as there is a possibility of overdrying the mucous membrane.
• Chlorophyllipt. For rinsing, decoctions of herbs or chlorophyllipt, a natural antibiotic, are also used. It is obtained from the leaves of the ball eucalyptus. For gargling, this is the most effective remedy. It even copes with the beginning of a sore throat in no time, eliminates a sore throat, kills microbes and relieves inflammation. In the pharmacy, chlorophyllipt can be bought in various dosage forms - tablets, oil, alcohol solutions, spray. The latter is very convenient and effective for irrigating the throat.
• Furacilin. Antimicrobial rinses with furatsilin can stop a coccal infection. As soon as even a slight sore throat appears, you need to dilute two tablets in a glass of hot water. Wait until it cools down to 40 degrees. Gargle every hour. This will stop the reproduction of microorganisms and relieve coughing.

Warming up the chest

Warming by rubbing. Warming up should be started from the first days of illness, if there is no high temperature. They can be done in a variety of ways. Here are a few compositions for rubbing when warmed up:

• Turpentine and castor oil in a ratio of 1:2.
• Goat or badger fat.
• Onion and goose fat 2:1.
• Turpentine and lard 1:1.
• A 1×1 grid drawn with 5% iodine.

The patient's chest and back are rubbed with one of the compositions, while excluding the region of the heart. They put a blotting paper or wax paper on the skin, put on cotton underwear, a warm sweater, and wrap themselves in a blanket. Warming up is carried out for 1.5-2 hours.

Warming up with compresses. A cloth impregnated with a warming solution is placed on the patient's body. It is covered with plastic wrap, fixed with a warm scarf (preferably a downy scarf), put on top of cotton underwear and a wool sweater. Hold the compress for at least an hour, you can leave it overnight. But no more than 12 hours. Approximate mixtures for compresses:

• Finely grated pumpkin, warm milk, rye flour and honey. Make a cake, attach it to the chest and back.
• Apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil, camphor in a ratio of 5:3:2.
• Peeled flour with honey in the form of a cake.

Warm baths. Warming baths help with dry cough in adults. Pour a steep decoction of medicinal herbs (500 g of herbs per liter of water) into very warm water, add 10-20 drops of essential oil. The whole point of the procedure is reduced to the general warming up of the body and the inhalation of the aromas of medicinal herbs.

Warming up with dry heat. For this purpose, use rock, sea salt or seeding heated in the oven to 80 degrees. It is placed in a bag, and when it cools down to 60 degrees, it is applied to the chest and back. During a dry warming session, the patient should lie under a blanket.

Physiotherapy methods

Physiotherapy has long been an indispensable part of the treatment of diseases accompanied by dry cough. The procedures have a beneficial effect on the body, reduce the inflammatory process, relieve pain, and eliminate the cause of the disease.

Massage. The simplest and most affordable method is massage, hardware or manual classic. The duration of the procedure is 5-8 minutes. Course - up to 8 times. Use heated oil for massage, it is possible with the addition of essential oil.

UHF therapy has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect, relieves spasm. The duration of the procedure is 5-20 minutes, in total 12 sessions are needed, every day or every other day, two procedures per day are possible.

Electrophoresis improves sputum discharge and its evacuation from the bronchi. The procedure allows you to quickly cure dry cough, it is several times higher than the effect of drug treatment.

If you have a dry cough, don't expect it to go away on its own. Its presence is a clear sign that problems have arisen in the work of the body. But they are removable, as you could see above - there are many methods to soften and cure a cough. It is important not to tighten and choose the right one. After all, the untreated root cause of cough, as well as illiterately prescribed treatment, is fraught with serious consequences for the body.

We wish you not to get sick! And if the disease does come, get well soon!

Dry cough is the most common symptom of various respiratory pathologies. No one is immune from the appearance of this symptom - a cough is present in both children and adults, it can accompany and. In any case, regardless of the reason for the dry cough, the body needs to be helped to cope with it.

Possible causes of dry cough

Cough appears when foreign bodies enter the respiratory tract or when sputum accumulates - it just releases the body. But with a dry cough, sputum is absent, and the development of the syndrome in question is preceded by perspiration and discomfort in the throat.

Causes of dry cough:

• pleurisy;
• infectious diseases of the respiratory tract;
• lung tumor (benign or);
• inhalation of toxic fumes.

In almost every case, an infectious disease of the respiratory tract is accompanied by a dry cough. If the patient carries out the correct treatment, then after a short time the cough becomes wet. But if the syndrome in question lasts too long, there is no improvement and the nature of the cough does not change, then this may indicate the progression of the inflammatory process in the lungs.

Important! Before treating dry cough, it is necessary to find the true cause of this syndrome. And the best option would be to contact specialists - only in the conditions of a medical institution it will be possible to conduct a full examination of the patient.

Description of dry cough

In medicine, there are 3 types of dry cough:

• dull cough - this will be a sign of the development of a lung tumor or tuberculosis;
• barking cough - appears as a result of a viral disease in which the vocal cords were damaged;
• hysterical cough - most often this type of dry cough is diagnosed in pediatric patients and accompanies whooping cough.

The cause of the syndrome under consideration can also be - it usually occurs in smokers in the morning (immediately after waking up) or during physical exertion. A dry cough in a smoker can lead to the development of chronic bronchitis.

If the patient has the syndrome in question against the background, then you need to be attentive to the process of treating the disease and visit the doctor regularly for a follow-up examination. The fact is that bronchial asthma is characterized by pulmonary edema, and this can lead to the most severe complications, up to and including death.

Note:there is a so-called aspirin asthma, in which the use of even a small dose provokes bronchospasm. The problem can be solved only by the urgent use of bronchodilators.

If the examination of the patient did not confirm the presence of an infectious or viral disease of the respiratory tract, then doctors can associate the appearance of a dry cough with gastroenterological pathologies. For example, the syndrome in question is inherent in diseases of the gallbladder,.

How to treat dry cough

Treatment should not be aimed at getting rid of dry cough! It is necessary to cure the underlying disease, but a dry cough can simply be softened, translated into a productive form, thus facilitating the patient's condition. Very often, with a dry cough, anesthetics are used - they soften the throat, make the condition less uncomfortable. But such funds should not be given to patients of childhood!

It is advisable to treat dry cough in children as follows:

• give to drink warm milk with honey or mineral water;
• the air in the room where the patient is located must be constantly moistened;
• carry out inhalation procedures with saline, essential oils.

Note:if a dry cough does not soften and does not become wet after 2-3 days of these procedures, then you need to seek help from doctors - most likely, you will need to carry out therapy with medications.

Dry cough medicines

Important! Before using any of the following remedies, you should consult your doctor. Self-medication can be hazardous to your health.

There are a lot of medicines that can and should be taken with a dry cough. But in this article we will highlight only a few of them:

Note:Bronchicum syrup contains extracts of thyme and primrose roots - these plants can become a provoking factor in the development of an allergic reaction.

1. Hexapneumin . This complex medicine, combined, has an antihistamine, antitussive and antimicrobial effect. This remedy is allowed to be taken by children only from 8 years old and adults at a dosage of 2-3 teaspoons per day with equal intervals between doses.
2. Insti. The drug has an expectorant, mucolytic and anti-inflammatory effect. The product is produced in the form of granules, and its composition is completely of plant origin. Insty is taken 2-3 times a day immediately after meals. And before using the drug, you need to dissolve one sachet in a small amount of water - this is a single dosage.
3. Codelac. A very powerful antitussive agent, the main active ingredient of which is codeine. For adults, this drug is prescribed in a dosage of 1 tablet 2-3 times a day, and for children, the same drug is available in the form of a syrup and is prescribed in a daily dosage of 5 ml.
4. Cofanol . The drug based on plant components, has a mucolytic, antitussive and antimicrobial effect. For adults and children under 14 years of age, doctors prescribe Cofanol 1-2 tablets 4 times a day, children aged 7 to 14 years - 1 tablet 3 times a day.
5. Neo-Codion . Produced in the form of tablets, the main active ingredient is codeine. The medicine should be taken 1 tablet up to 4 times a day, but the time interval between doses should not be more than 6 hours.
6. Paracodamol. This drug has an inhibitory effect, which is directed against the cough reflex. In addition, Paracodamol has an antipyretic effect, so it is especially good to take it with a dry cough against a cold. Assign a remedy for 1-2 tablets 4-5 times a day, but not more than 8 pieces per day.
7. Synekod. A syrup that has an antitussive effect. The main active ingredient is butamirate, which blocks the cough reflex, but does not inhibit respiratory activity. Adults are prescribed 15 ml before meals 3 times a day, children aged 6 to 12 years - 10 ml 3 times a day, children aged 3 to 6 years - 5 ml three times a day.
8. Stoptussin. This is an antitussive syrup. It is necessary to take this drug strictly according to the official instructions - the dosage depends on the weight of the patient.
9. Terkodin. Combined drug that simultaneously suppresses cough, improves bronchial secretion and promotes rapid evacuation of sputum. Take Terkodin in the following dosages:

• adult children over 12 years old - 1 tablet 2-3 times a day;
• children from 5 to 10 years - half a tablet 3 times a day;
• children from 2 to 5 years old - 1/3 tablet 3 times a day.

Folk remedies for the treatment of dry cough

Treatment of dry cough with folk remedies is quite acceptable and very effective. It is usually recommended to carry out inhalations, put compresses and take decoctions.

Dry cough inhalation

To get rid of the phenomenon under consideration, heat-moist, oil and steam inhalations are carried out. Moreover, these procedures in some cases are even more effective than the use of specific drugs - when inhaled, the effect is directly on the inflamed bronchial mucosa, and therefore the effect is fast.

In order for inhalation procedures to really have a therapeutic effect, they use:

• eucalyptus;
• peppermint;
• St. John's wort;
• coltsfoot;

All of these medicinal plants have anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antiseptic effects. It is very easy to carry out inhalation - you need to pour boiling water over a collection of all these plants, let it brew for half an hour and pour it into a shallow and wide plate. And then it remains only to inhale the vapors with your mouth and exhale the air with your nose, covering yourself with a towel. The duration of the procedure is no more than 20 minutes.

If you want to enhance the effect of inhalations with herbal decoctions, then you need to add 2-5 drops of essential oil to the already prepared solution. The most relevant in this situation will be pine, eucalyptus or sea buckthorn oil.

Note:The "grandfather" method of treating dry cough with inhalation over boiled potatoes will also have a good effect, soften the throat - do not ignore it.

Decoctions

Herbal decoctions can be prepared at home, and it is quite simple to take them - the main thing is to carry out a full course of treatment for dry cough. Recommended Recipes:

Compresses and several other remedies

Doctors say that it is the compress that is one of the most effective methods of mitigating a dry cough. You can do something like this, for example:

• take 1 part apple cider vinegar;
• mix vinegar with 3 parts water;
• add 1 teaspoon of honey to the solution;
• moisten a textile napkin in the finished product;
• attach a napkin to the chest (bypassing the anatomical location of the heart);
• lay polyethylene on top;
• fix everything on the body with something warm (for example, a scarf or shawl).

And here are some more effective remedies from the category of "traditional medicine":

1. In 1 liter of milk, boil 2 pieces of ripe figs until the color of the broth changes to a darker shade (chocolate cream). Then the broth is cooled, the entire amount is drunk during the day in small sips and in a warm state.
2. If you chop 2 medium onions, boil them in milk (200 ml) for 20 minutes, cool and strain, you will get an excellent remedy for getting rid of dry cough. Onion-milk decoction should be taken 2 teaspoons 3-4 times a day.
3. You need to boil 1 lemon, cut it and squeeze the juice. To the resulting lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of medical glycerin and honey is added so much that the result is a glass of the finished drug. The remedy is taken 1 teaspoon 5-6 times a day.

Dry cough is a persistent form of cough that is not accompanied by sputum production. Let's look at the pathological and non-pathological causes of dry cough. We will also study pharmacological and natural remedies for solving the problem of dry cough.

What is dry cough

Dry cough is a sign of a disease or condition that leads to inflammation or irritation of the mucous membranes respiratory tract, which, however, is not accompanied by expectoration of sputum.

Dry cough is a relatively common occurrence, and, in most cases, is not associated with diseases. Often the result of banal irritation caused by inhalation of dust, smoke or other substances, or even by accidental inhalation of foreign bodies - solid or liquid - when swallowing food.

From pathological causes of dry cough the most common is the acute phase of a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, such as SARS or seasonal influenza.

However, dry cough should not be underestimated, especially if it persists for a relatively long time. It may indicate a serious pathology that threatens the patient's life, such as tuberculosis.

When and how does a dry cough appear

Depending on how it happens, how long it lasts and what are its causes, we can distinguish several types of dry cough, but in practice it is very difficult to separate them, since these types overlap each other.

But, let's try, however, to distinguish these types:

• Night: as its name says, it is a cough that appears at night! When does our body need to rest? Cough does not allow sleep and further aggravates the patient's condition. This cough often accompanies a state of nervousness.
• Persistent: this is a type of cough, usually not related to the time of day or even position, but very persistent, can persist for days, weeks and even months, for no apparent reason. In this case, it is useful to delve into the search for causes in order to identify the true cause. The cough is called persistent, if it lasts at least 2 weeks, and is called chronic if it lasts more than 4 weeks.
• Allergic: This is a type of cough that occurs in certain cases or places where the allergy factor is present.

Symptoms associated with dry cough

Given the large number of diseases whose symptoms include a dry cough, there are such a large number of accompanying cough disorders.

We present those who occur most frequently:

• Wheezing.
• Fatigue and general malaise.
• Muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Nasal congestion and runny nose.
• Sore throat.
• Hoarseness.
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
• Gastroenterological disorders (nausea, vomiting, sometimes diarrhea).
• Fever in the evening.

The described symptoms are the most common and coincide with typical flu-like symptoms. As a rule, in such cases, dry cough is noted only in the acute stage of the disease, and over time it becomes "productive", with the release of copious sputum.

Less often Other accompanying symptoms may appear:

• Bad breath.
• Constriction and pain in the chest.
• Difficulty breathing and feeling short of breath.
• Tiredness and weariness, even at rest or after minimal effort.
• Diarrhea.
• Rash on the skin.
• Weight loss for no apparent reason.
• Anorexia.

With even less frequency severe symptoms that requires immediate medical attention:

• Fever with a high temperature that consistently exceeds 38°C.
• Severe difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath.
• Dry, metallic and painful cough, which is accompanied by pain during breathing.
• Difficulty swallowing, accompanied by severe pain.
• Problems with speech.
• Continuous urge to urinate.
• Edema of the legs and lower extremities.
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and a feeling of heart in the throat.

Causes of cough depending on the symptoms

Possible causes of dry cough are all those diseases that have it as one of the symptoms. As already mentioned, there are a lot of such diseases, below we list those that are the most common, and indicate their main symptoms.

Moreover, dry cough may not be associated with pathological conditions. For example, you will have a dry cough if:

• smoke cigarettes. Smoking irritates the airways and triggers the cough reflex. Sometimes even passive smoking can cause a dry cough.
• Accidentally inhale an irritant. They also stimulate cough receptors.
• Are you taking medication. Some medications, such as ACE inhibitors used to treat hypertension, can cause a dry cough as a side effect.
• Have problems with anxiety and nervousness. Very often coughing cause of coughing should be sought in the emotional sphere, as it can develop in the form of a psychosomatic disorder; a state of anxiety or nervousness can even cause violent bouts of coughing.

Diagnosis - history and examination

To properly diagnose the cause of dry cough, the doctor will use the following tools:

• Anamnestic analysis(direct conversation with the patient).
• Analysis of symptoms and signs accompanying dry cough.
• Examination and thorough medical checkup.
• Throat swab. Obtaining cells from the pharynx, which are then examined for the presence of any infections and their pathogens.
• X-ray or computed tomography chest.
• Bronchoscopy. The introduction of an endoscope into the respiratory tract, which allows them to examine and obtain material for research.
• Spirometry. Allows you to evaluate the functionality of the respiratory system and diagnose problems such as asthma.

Dry cough remedies

The best treatment for dry cough provides curing the disease that underlies it. As soon as the cause is cured, the cough should immediately disappear.

However, if the dry cough is very irritating, significantly reducing sleep, then symptomatic treatment may be needed to suppress the coughing fits.

Cough medicines

Medicines used to treat cough symptomatically act on the cough control center in the brain and spinal cord, or on cough receptors located in the respiratory tree.

One of the active ingredients most commonly used for this purpose is codeine in the form of syrup or drops.

Aerosol for cough

This form of therapy is especially effective for certain types of dry cough (asthma, bronchitis, etc.). Aerosols have proven to be very effective in treating airway inflammation and hence many types of dry cough because they can be spray in very small droplets(with a diameter of one millionth or even a billionth of a meter). Then - when inhaling - an aerosol preparation reaches every point of the respiratory tract and thus it is possible to eradicate inflammation by taking the minimum dose of the drug.

The drugs most commonly administered in the form of aerosols are antihistamines (for the treatment of dry cough in asthma or allergies), cortisone (for the treatment of bronchitis and general inflammation), salbutamol (for the treatment of bronchospasm).

Natural Remedies

In folk medicine, there are many herbs that can effectively soothe a dry cough. These funds are used, as a rule, in the form of herbal teas or in the form of syrups.

Among the most commonly used:

Linden. Infusions are prepared from its dried flowers. They contain thialicin, which has mild sedative properties, antispasmodic (counters spasm of the respiratory muscles) and softening effect.

Mallow. Infusions are prepared from its leaves. Such infusions contain many active ingredients that act like penicillins on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Thyme. Used in the form of an infusion. Contains thymol, which has antibacterial properties. It also has expectorant properties, that is, it helps to remove the resulting sputum.