Sudden dry cough. What to do if a dry cough does not go away? Types of cough and how to treat it

If the airways are irritated by something, coughing cannot be avoided. This reaction is a reflex, it is impossible to contain it by volitional efforts. Often aggravated at night, preventing the patient from falling asleep. All respiratory and abdominal muscles participate in it.

The most common causes of dry cough in adults. Treatment with medicines and folk remedies

Therefore, a prolonged cough is tiring and harmful. This is especially true for dry cough, which does not remove anything from the respiratory tract. Such an unproductive cough irritates them even more and leads to complications.

You should not wait until it passes by itself, but immediately begin treatment. In adults, this reaction is not so pronounced, but the diseases accompanied by it are no less dangerous than in children.

This characteristic symptom most often signals a specific respiratory disease. However, it happens that a prolonged dry cough in an adult accompanies diseases whose treatment is not directly related to the respiratory system.

Or is it a whole complex of circumstances that provoke each other. In adults, discomfort in the respiratory tract is often associated with other, not directly related, systemic diseases. Therefore, it is very important to establish what exactly causes a dry cough for a quick and successful treatment.

For respiratory infections

Cough appears in the first days, when there is no sputum yet. Pneumonia, bronchitis, whooping cough and similar diseases begin with it. This is preceded by a sore throat, tearing and runny nose. After that, temperature, intoxication and other characteristic manifestations appear.

With proper treatment, sputum is formed, and the cough becomes necessary, expectorant. Post-infectious dry cough is provoked by sensations in the throat of irritation or tickling. This can last more than 2 weeks, and for a long time, up to 2 months, a rare cough may disturb.

Chronic diseases of ENT organs

The irritant of coughing with sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis and other diseases of the nasopharynx is mucus that enters the back of the throat from the nose. Since lying down contributes to this, such a cough is especially painful at night.

Allergy

Dry cough and runny nose without fever is one of the most common reactions to an allergen. Often it takes the form of recurrent bronchitis, not amenable to treatment. Usually adults affected by this syndrome know what substances provoke this problem in them.

But if this happened for the first time, determining the stimulus may take time. In this case, you should contact an allergist and the sooner, the more optimal the solution will be.

Thyroid enlargement

In diseases of this organ, coughing attacks occur due to compression of the trachea, next to which it is located. This phenomenon is mechanical, and it is not accompanied by any other characteristic manifestations, fever or inflammation of the larynx.

Heart disease, malformations and heart failure

They also have an unproductive cough. It often occurs as a reaction to physical exertion and is accompanied by high blood pressure, shortness of breath with attacks of suffocation, increased heart rate. In the supine position, it becomes more intense, and in order to weaken it, you need to arrange the patient sitting.

In this case, there is practically no temperature and sputum. However, during an exacerbation of the disease, when the left ventricle does not cope with its functions, blood stagnates in the lungs, it can come out with a cough.

Tumor

The growth of tumor formations near the respiratory organs compresses them. Obstruction of the normal flow of air causes coughing, which is accompanied by chest pain if it is associated with lung cancer. With such an oncological process, purulent sputum with blood should be expected.

When the throat and larynx are affected by a cancerous tumor, breathing is difficult due to the narrowing of the lumen. With such a cough, blood can be coughed up. It will also get into saliva and nasal secretions.

Tuberculosis

No one is immune from this severe and difficult-to-treat disease. But those who are about 30 years of age and older are most at risk. Constant overwork, excessive stress, unfavorable working conditions and others causes of reduced immunity activate Koch's wand, which is found during examination in 80-90% of people in this group.

Dry prolonged cough in an adult, intensive treatment of which does not give significant positive results, may be a sign of tuberculosis, which most often affects the bronchi and lungs.

Dry cough in this case, after 3-4 weeks, will begin to remove sputum. Also, this disease is evidenced by: lack of appetite, weakness, chills, slight fever in the evenings, and heavy sweating at night.

Stress

Nervous coughing during stress occurs in both adults and children. When a person is uncomfortable in any situation, he is embarrassed or worried, this psychogenic cough can occur. It is not accompanied by other symptoms, but with severe shocks it can cause spasm and suffocation.

Other probable causes

Often, irritation of nerve receptors, leading to a dry cough, is associated with an aggressive environment that injures the mucous membranes. Such a cough does not need special treatment if the exposure to the environment was short-lived. It passes when the mucous membranes are restored.

Frequent, severe, dry cough in an adult is caused by smoking. Treatment will be ineffective if you do not get rid of this habit. It is not necessary to smoke yourself, passive smokers also suffer from bouts of such a cough.

In addition to the tumors mentioned above, compression of the respiratory tract and, consequently, reflex cough, leads to an increase in lymph nodes that accompanies blood diseases, as well as other pathologies, and expansion of the aorta with aneurysm. The fibrous process acts similarly in the lungs.

Problems of the esophagus in case of fistula formation can provoke a dry cough. Diabetes mellitus causes dry mucous membranes, a constant desire to drink, which leads to coughing fits.

The mucosa of the lungs can be irritated by worms with extensive intestinal damage. Some medications indicated for hypertension can cause coughing as a side effect. Such information is always indicated in the instructions. Dry cough is often caused by aspirin and some inhaled medicines. If this happens, these drugs should be discontinued.

Signs of a dry cough

The time during which a dry cough does not leave a person makes it possible to judge whether the treatment is chosen correctly and the cause is determined. Since coughing does not cause tangible discomfort in adults, many do not pay attention to it.

However, you need to monitor this symptom so as not to miss the time if the cough signals a more serious process than a cold or post-infection problems with the throat mucosa.

The duration of the cough divides it into the following types:

1. Spicy- accompanies a viral or catarrhal disease.
2. protracted - does not leave the patient for more than 2 weeks after the infection.
3. recurrent- Constantly returns for 4-5 weeks. Often this indicates asthma or bronchitis and manifests itself in attacks that are difficult to control. deal. Therefore, it is better not to postpone contacting a doctor with such a cough.
4. chronic cough- worries a person for more than 2 months and says that its cause is a constant factor and seriously complicates the breathing process. You can get rid of chronic cough only if this cause is completely eliminated.

According to the time of day at which the cough is most intense, the following assumptions can be made:

• morning cough- accompanies chronic bronchitis
• Night cough- observed in ENT diseases, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, or is associated with weakness of the heart, as well as GERD - a pathology in which the contents of the stomach periodically enter the esophagus.
• Cough after eating- problems of the larynx, throat, gastrointestinal tract.

Also significant are the following signs of a dry cough:

• Loud, "barking" cough- inherent in SARS, pathologies of the trachea and larynx.
• Deaf- the problem is deep in the lungs.
• hysterical, spasmodic, convulsive cough is a symptom of whooping cough.
• Frequent, shallow- Irritation of the pleura. If at the same time it hurts in the side, pleurisy can be assumed.
• Bronchial asthma causes a heavy, suffocating cough, with thick expectoration after an attack.
• reflex cough, when irritation is not related to breathing - it happens, for example, with inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ears.
• Hacking, incessant dry cough - parts of the respiratory tract are compressed.

Medical treatment of dry cough

Note! Resorption of lozenges helps relieve dry cough in an adult or child, whose treatment gives a positive trend. It does not have to be medicinal or fortified lollipops. The activity of the salivary glands and frequent swallowing are important. Saliva wets irritated mucous membranes, and the swallowing reflex relieves seizures.

It is important that a dry cough turns into a productive, wet form. After that, it is advisable to use mucolytic and expectorant agents that help reduce the viscosity of sputum and its excretion.

Before the formation of sputum, attacks of painful coughing are removed with the help of drugs that depress the cough center and antispasmodics.

Drugs that relieve spasm in the bronchi

If the patency of the respiratory tract is impaired due to spasm, swelling and narrowing of the bronchi, as well as filling them with mucus, bronchodilators are used, for example, Atropine, Teofedrin. They relax the muscles of the bronchi and promote ventilation of the lungs. With their help, cough is eliminated in chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Antitussive drugs

If coughing fits can cause significant harm, for example, with whooping cough, dry pleurisy, bronchitis, influenza or other diseases, it may be advisable to suppress the cough reflex before sputum is formed and not deplete the patient's body.

The drugs provided for such cases are not narcotic and are not addictive. They locally act on nerve receptors in combination with an analgesic and sedative effect.

They should be used only at the beginning of the illness, until sputum appears, usually at bedtime. If the cough has become wet, removing sputum, antitussive drugs should be stopped. They should be replaced with expectorants.

Often used for this problem. Broncholitin is a syrup with a combined antitussive, mucolytic and antiseptic effect.

Carefully! Cough suppression is contraindicated in cases of haemorrhage in the lungs and accumulation of sputum.

Mucolytics

If sputum stagnation is observed with an incessant dry cough, the patient is prescribed drugs that thin it and promote excretion - mucolytic and expectorant. Typically, these drugs combine both of these effects with a mild anti-inflammatory.

Their use makes sense with hard breathing and wheezing in the bronchi and tops of the lungs. Such drugs do not reduce the intensity of cough, but facilitate the respiratory process. due to the release of sputum masses and the transformation of a dry cough into a productive, wet one.

Means with the above effect can be purchased at a pharmacy. The most effective and available are Amroxol, Ambrobene, Bromhexine, Acetylcysteine ​​and their analogues. Plantain-based syrups also help well: Gerbion, Dr. Theiss.

Antibiotics

They are used to treat infections after confirmation of their bacterial nature. Their use is advisable in severe cases. With a mild course of the disease, such treatment can be harmful, because such drugs suppress natural immunity and contribute to the development of allergies.

Sedatives

With psychogenic cough, which is provoked by stress, it is important to treat a general nervous disease. In this case, you can not do without the qualified help of a doctor. In this case, self-medication and taking sedatives without professional advice is very dangerous.

Antihistamines

With the allergic nature of the cough, the drug prescribed by the allergist and the elimination of the provoking factor will help get rid of such an unpleasant condition. It is important to start treatment on time before the coughing fits become more severe or complicated. In such cases, Zodak, Zirtek, Suprastin are usually prescribed.

Radical treatment with drugs with potent substances

In situations where other means are not able to alleviate debilitating bouts of dry cough, which significantly worsens the quality of life in an adult patient or a child, treatment is accompanied by taking drugs, including codeine, ethylmorphine or other substances that depress the cough center of the brain.

These drugs also affect other brain functions and are addictive. Therefore, they are used in the most extreme cases in stationary conditions, for example, in the treatment of cancer.

Folk remedies that will help with dry cough. Recipes

Solutions for gargling

This procedure will help if the cough is caused by inflammation of the larynx. The main effect expected from rinsing is softening, moisturizing and relieving inflammation. For this chamomile infusion is best suited, as well as a solution of salt and soda in equal parts with a few drops of iodine.

These remedies, in addition to the above actions, will soothe the irritated mucous membrane and wash away pathogenic bacteria from the throat.

Milk softens and soothes

Warm milk has a calming effect on both the central nervous system and the endings in the respiratory tract. When heated, it will give a respite to the mucous membrane from coughing fits and help it recover.

If you add a little butter or cocoa butter to it, as well as 1 tsp. honey, the enveloping and softening effect of such a drink will last for quite a long time.

Inhalations with essential oils

If the problem that caused the dry cough is in the bronchi, drinking and rinsing will not help. It is necessary to penetrate the therapeutic agent deep into the respiratory tract. In this case, inhalations with volatile components - essential oils, which can be added to "grandmother's" recipes, are very effective.

for example, deep breathing over boiled potatoes will be more effective if you add a drop of fir oil to it.

Inhalations with oils of eucalyptus, lavender, coriander, oregano, lemon balm and mint should be carried out every other day, although it can be done daily, for 15-30 minutes 5-12 times. This will greatly help the main treatment and alleviate dry cough. Inhalation with a solution of soda with the addition of oils will also be useful.

The solution for inhalation is prepared simply:

1. The optimal amount of boiling water for the formation of steam - 2 cups. You can use a decoction of oregano, chamomile and other herbs or other steam bases.
2. Oil quantity- 2 drops.

Warm compresses

Important to remember! Warming up the body - compresses, massage and rubbing, is indicated only if the patient does not have a significant temperature increase and there are no suspicions of complications from the infection.

However, with bronchitis and congestion in the lungs, when sputum does not go away with a dry cough, compresses and massages are necessary. The components of the compress are laid out on the patient's chest, but not on the heart area. If the compress is made of liquid components, it is rubbed into the skin. Then cover with a film or parchment paper, insulate with a woolen cloth and fix with a bandage.

The simplest compress recipes for dry cough:

• from honey and flour a cake is mixed in corn oil, which is molded on the skin of the patient;
• dry mustard powder, liquid honey and radish juice in equal parts;
• just liquid honey very good as a compress;
• heated in a water bath vegetable oil and boiled potatoes in uniforms, you can use potatoes left after inhalation.

warm drink

Drink with a dry cough you need a lot of warm, but not hot liquid, at least 3 liters per day. In addition to the milk mentioned above, berry fruit drinks, raspberry, cranberry, rosehip teas, decoctions and jelly with lemon and honey will be very useful. Herbs of plantain, sage, licorice, mother and stepmothers will be very helpful if the patient is not allergic to them. A very effective remedy is black radish juice with honey.

Drinking on the basis of such components helps to expel sputum and transform a dry cough into an expectorant.

Room humidification

Dry air and dust in it irritate the inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Therefore, the microclimate of the room in which the patient is located must be monitored especially carefully.

Air humidity must be maintained at the level of 50–70%, and the temperature should not exceed 20 C. Airing should be done at least three times a day. Perfumes, fragrances and smoking, both active and passive, should be avoided.

Dry cough is not a disease, but only a symptom. It should be remembered that it can accompany serious damage to internal organs, some of which are difficult to treat. Therefore, a prolonged dry cough is a sufficient reason for visiting a doctor and a comprehensive examination.

How to cure a dry cough in an adult, see this video:

For the treatment of dry cough, see the program "Live Healthy":

A frequent manifestation of many diseases of the respiratory system is a cough. In most cases, after the disease has been cured, the cough disappears. But sometimes a dry cough does not go away for a long time in an adult, and this becomes an alarming symptom that can lead to serious health problems.

This article will focus on explaining the reasons why a cough can last for a long time, as well as advice on diagnosing possible diseases.

A cough that stayed for a long time

Cough is a reflex aimed at clearing the airways of dust and phlegm.

It is of two types:

• - without separation of sputum, exhausts the body with prolonged attacks and irritates the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
• - with sputum separation, is more productive, because during the process of sputum excretion, the body heals itself.

Both dry and wet coughs can suddenly develop into, which will not allow the body to fully recover from a recent illness.

Diseases and conditions that can cause a lingering cough

The most common reason why a dry cough does not go away is considered to be an incorrect diagnosis, and as a result, treatment that is not suitable in this case. Not infrequently, the reason that the cough did not go away after a long time is self-medication.

Many people go to work with a cough, take their children to children's educational institutions, and do not even think that they need specialist help. Instead, they prefer to buy a syrup recommended by a friend or take a few inhalations.

If the condition has improved slightly, then such a dangerous self-treatment is also stopped. None of the above can be done! Only a doctor knows how to diagnose the disease and what to choose the necessary drugs to improve the condition and complete recovery.

So:

• If a dry cough does not go away after a cold, this indicates that the development of the disease has been delayed. Ideally, a dry cough appears with a cold in the first days of the acute period of the disease, and then it turns into a wet one, a gradual discharge of sputum begins, the bronchi are cleared and the person is on the mend. If a dry cough still lasts, and does not turn into a wet one, this indicates that the bronchi cannot cope with the load, which means you need to contact a pulmonologist.
• It happens that dry does not go away for a long time. Pharyngitis is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the pharynx becomes inflamed. A cough can be of a different nature: it can be dry, paroxysmal, throaty, tormenting only at night. Most often, the cough does not go away due to errors in treatment, namely, the treatment for pharyngitis is stopped as soon as the cough disappears. And this is fundamentally wrong, because an interrupted course will give complications in the form of recurring coughing fits.
• - Another reason why a dry cough does not go away for a long time. Most smokers may not even notice coughing, believing that there is nothing serious in it, which means that it is not necessary to consult a doctor. However, such coughing may indicate chronic bronchitis, which has developed as a result of the systematic exposure to nicotine and other toxic substances contained in cigarettes. Running chronic bronchitis in smokers eventually leads to emphysema, and then to pulmonary insufficiency.
• - if you have set yourself the question - why does a dry cough not go away, you may have become one of the many owners of allergies. Allergic reactions to dust, wool, fluff, seasonal allergies to the flowering of various plants are very common. Dry cough, sneezing, itchy nose are all symptoms that can accompany this disease.
• If you are suffering from a dry persistent cough and at this time you are taking any medications, it is likely that the cough is a reaction of the body caused by these medications. In 30% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, dry cough occurs while taking drugs to lower blood pressure. After stopping the drug, the cough goes away on its own.
• Tuberculosis- this serious diagnosis is worth thinking about if a dry cough has not gone away for a month (see). Koch's wand, which is the causative agent of this disease, is found in the body of almost every person by the age of 30, but due to the protective forces of immunity, the disease does not develop. With a sharp decrease in immunity, constant stress and nervous tension, as well as malnutrition, tuberculosis can develop. Subfebrile body temperature and increased sweating at night, obsessive coughing, which eventually turns into a dry non-productive cough, are considered manifestations of tuberculosis.

• Worm infestations- there are cases of ascariasis, in which the larvae move in the pulmonary circulation and linger in the bronchi, trachea or lungs. The larvae irritate the cough receptors and provoke a prolonged dry cough.
• Cough caused by occupational hazards. When a dry cough in an adult does not go away, there is reason to think about working conditions. When working near toxic substances, household chemicals, in coal mines, a dry cough can develop, and in some cases even respiratory failure. The simplest solution to this problem is to change jobs and consult a pulmonologist. After all, no matter how high wages are, the price of your health is much higher.

What diseases does the duration of coughing indicate:

How to improve your well-being with a dry cough?

If a dry cough does not go away for a long time, the main goal is to visit a doctor.

Note! Only a doctor will be able to check whether the diagnosis is correctly made and the treatment is selected, correct it if necessary and conduct a diagnosis.

You may need to take blood tests or take x-rays of the respiratory system. The instructions for this procedure are quite simple, you just need to take a certain position for a few minutes and do not move while the device takes pictures.

Helpful Hints:

1. Treatment of dry cough should be aimed at sputum discharge, i.e. so that it turns into a wet cough.
2. Drink more than 2 liters of liquid daily - teas, fruit drinks, herbal infusions, mineral water. Alternatively, you can drink warm milk, to which honey, figs, bananas, as well as butter or mineral water are added. All these components soften the cough, reduce the frequency of attacks and envelop the mucosa, protecting it from irritation.
3. Include light, calorie-rich foods in your daily diet and cut down on fatty and fried foods so as not to overload the body that is fighting the disease.
4. Conduct a course of inhalation. Inhalations can be done with potatoes, essential oils or medicinal herbs. In hot water, add a couple of drops of essential oil, or pre-brewed herbs - thyme, mint or eucalyptus will do, then lower your head over a container of water and inhale the steam. It is advisable to cover the head along with the container with a terry towel so that the beneficial substances from the steam enter only the respiratory tract, and are not scattered around the room. With the help of photos posted on the Internet, you can learn how to do it correctly.

Thanks to the posted video in this article, you can learn more about possible treatments, the reasons why a dry cough does not go away for a long time in an adult, and what minimal interventions can be applied before visiting a doctor.

Dry cough can indicate various diseases. From allergies to cancer. Therefore, do not neglect treatment. A dry cough is unlikely to go away on its own. He needs complex and urgent treatment. Protracted dry cough in an adult is not as easy to treat as it seems at first glance. You can try to treat a cough on your own, resorting to traditional medicine, or consult a doctor who will relieve the disease of some effective medicine. If the cough starts, it can lead to dangerous consequences.

Causes: dry cough in an adult

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to understand the cause of the disease.

Reasons may vary:

1. A persistent, debilitating cough can mean exposure to various substances that cause allergies. At the same time, the cough is prolonged, the patient does not have a temperature. You can calm it down by eliminating the allergen and taking appropriate medications.
2. An obsessive dry cough can be found in heavy smokers. And also the cause can be diseases of the stomach, heart, lungs.
3. Morning cough can mean chronic bronchitis.
4. But most often, a constant dry cough indicates colds, such as: laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, asthma, malignant neoplasms, infectious diseases.

With osteochondrosis, pressure on the nerve endings and blood vessels increases. This results in coughing. In diseases of the heart and other organs, a terrible cough begins in the evenings.

How to treat dry cough in an adult

Having learned the cause of dry cough, it is necessary to begin treatment. It is advisable to consult a doctor who will select antibiotics in accordance with the cause of the disease.

There are two types of pathological cough:

• Acute - lasts no longer than two weeks;
• Protracted - two weeks - a month;
• Chronic - longer than a month, about a year.

It is necessary to determine in time why a cough has arisen and cure it before it becomes chronic. When treating, it is important to pay attention to the nature of the cough. He sometimes barks, as in laryngitis. It happens paroxysmal, for example, in patients with whooping cough.

A strong cough at night may indicate hypertrophy of the tonsils.

A rare dry cough can signal a pathology of the outer ear. If bouts of severe coughing are repeated, cyanosis is possible. A prolonged, painful cough is best treated with drugs that an experienced doctor should prescribe. There are mono- and combined cough preparations.

With bronchitis, ACC and Ambroxol tablets are suitable for adults. For children, the tablets Solutan and Mukaltin are suitable.

Folk remedies for dry cough for adults

You can try to calm the cough at home folk remedies. It is advisable to use such drugs under the supervision of a physician. Such treatment will be an excellent prevention or addition to medication treatment.

Some traditional medicine:

1. Do warm compresses.
2. Herbal inhalations.
3. Decoctions of chamomile, sage.
4. Radish with honey. It is necessary to cut off the upper part of the radish, clean it from the pulp and pour liquid honey inside. Then close the cut part and put it in the refrigerator for a day so that the radish juice mixes with honey. Drink five times a day for a tablespoon.

When treating folk remedies, it is important to observe regularity, only then they will be effective.

How to treat dry cough in adults

Groups of drugs have been developed for the treatment of cough, but it is worth resorting to them after consulting a doctor.

Medications that thin phlegm:

1. Cofanol. The composition includes substances of plant origin. Take two tablets four times a day.
2. Terkodin. Liquefies phlegm. Take two tablets three times a day.
3. Bronchicum. Expectorates mucus. Helps relieve annoying, persistent coughs. Take one teaspoon 4 times a day.

Antibiotics - Sumamed, treats continuous dry cough, allows you to get rid of cough in 3-4 days. Cefalexin - has almost no contraindications. You need to consult a doctor to determine the dosage. Hexapneumin - Helps to clear your throat. Take a tablet three times a day.

Homeopathic remedies for dry cough are as follows. Herbion has a natural composition, take the syrup according to the instructions: 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. Stodal is an inexpensive and effective cough remedy. Has no contraindications. Enough 15 mg. three times a day. Bronchipret - treats nocturnal, throat cough. Not contraindicated in pregnant women. Take twenty drops three times a day.

Treatment: dry cough in an adult without fever

To determine the method of treatment, it is necessary to deal with the cause of dry cough without fever.

The reasons may be the following:

1. Frequent dry cough may be associated with allergic reactions. This is due to the fact that when foreign substances enter, the mucous membrane is self-cleaning. Dust, plants, animals, household chemicals, etc. can become an allergen. In this case, there is no temperature, a runny nose may appear.
2. Having had an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract, a post-infectious cough may occur. May scratch your throat. This cough can last for about a month.
3. Oncology. Dry incessant cough may indicate various diseases: cancer of the trachea, bronchi, throat, tuberculosis. If a cough occurs during meals and is accompanied by yellow-green sputum and blood and does not go away within 1.5 months, you should immediately consult a doctor.
4. If, after a dry cough without sputum, blood is released, this is due to heart disease. Such a cough mainly occurs at night when a person is in a horizontal position. Blood stagnates in the body and comes out with a cough. Cough is accompanied by pain in the heart and shortness of breath.
5. In chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, the flow of mucus to the throat is characteristic, which causes a cough without fever.
6. Tuberculosis can be the cause of dry cough. In this case, the body temperature can be insignificant - about 37.
7. Dry cough may be associated with thyroid disease. The thyroid gland enlarges and presses on the trachea, which leads to a dry cough.

After identifying the cause of dry cough without fever, appropriate measures must be taken. The following are drugs that relieve dry cough.

What to drink with a dry cough for an adult

Herbion - the composition of the medicine includes thyme leaves and primrose roots, which have an expectorant effect. Good remedy for phlegm and cough. Recommended for heart disease.

1. bluecode. Fights dry cough without being addictive. Mucus is coughed up.
2. Codelac NEO. Helps relieve a cough.
3. Syrup Stodal. Homeopathic medicine. Helps relieve symptoms of a cold. The composition includes herbal ingredients, due to which the cough quickly becomes wet.
4. Syrup Ambroxol. Makes it very easy to get rid of a heavy cough. An effective remedy for bronchitis.
5. Bromhexine. Can eliminate prolonged cough in children, adults.
6. Dr. MOM. Comprehensively treats a sore throat. It has a complex, natural composition. Allows mucus to drain.
7. Syrup Gedelix. Has anti-inflammatory action. Relieves dry coughs and colds.
8. Ambrobene. Liquefies phlegm and removes it from the lungs.
9. ACC. The composition includes acetylcysteine, a substance that allows you to expectorate sputum.
10. Erespal. Expands the bronchi, thereby making it possible to cough, fights dry cough, treats a runny nose. Effective for SARS, influenza, whooping cough, otitis media.

Before use, it is better to consult a doctor.

Most often, a continuous dry cough begins as a result of the onset of the disease. The phlegm does not go away, the cough damages the airways. This symptom is associated with a cold, SARS. Continuing for more than a month, the cough becomes chronic. If the cough is barking, paroxysmal and prolonged, provokes bouts of vomiting, this indicates: tuberculosis, pneumonia, whooping cough. If a child has a sore throat, it is necessary to start treating the cough with medications. If the syrup does not cause allergic reactions, it is better to use it.

Types of medicines for dry cough:

1. Mucolytics. Expectorate and loosen mucus. Take it out of the lungs;
2. Secretomotor drugs. They are absorbed into the stomach and have an expectorant effect.

Use antibacterial drugs against bronchitis, influenza, tuberculosis. To treat a cough in a child, antibacterial drugs are used, for example: macrolides, cephalosporins. Penicillins - against dry and wet cough. These include: Flemoxin, Amoxiclav, Augmentin. If penicillins fail, antibiotics are used: Cefuroxime and Cefotaxime.

Severe dry cough

A dry cough along with a high fever are the first symptoms of a cold or flu. And it can also mean tracheitis, asthma, whooping cough or pneumonia.

There are three types of medications that relieve symptoms.:

• soothing;
• expectorants;
• Mukalitiki - liquefies sputum.

During treatment, it is important not to overcool. For prevention, you can harden the body, for example, do a douche. It is desirable for children to give vitamins that strengthen the immune system. If coughing occurs, you should consult a doctor. Need more rest and sleep.

A tearing, hysterical cough with a deep breath means an allergic reaction, flu, neuralgia.

A sudden hacking cough during inhalation and exhalation means that irritation has appeared in the larynx.

Choking, persistent cough appears with asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, tumors of the respiratory tract. If the cough intensifies and is accompanied by wheezing, then this is probably due to a cold, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, or a chronic disease of the upper respiratory tract.

A rare cough means that the mucus remaining in the lungs is gradually being expelled. Most often happens in the morning. And also bronchospasms can be associated with allergens, the presence of mold or fungus in the room, humid or dry air. Or such a cough signals a chronic disease.

Cough with chest pain. At the same time, the cough is deaf and barking, dizziness appears, weakness throughout the body. Pain in the chest indicates that the disease has become chronic or the cough remains after a serious illness. In this case, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

Hemoptysis occurs with oncology. In this case, urgent treatment is necessary until the disease has passed into a serious stage. Evening cough speaks of diseases associated with the heart. It is very important to stop a prolonged cough and relieve an attack, especially if the temperature is high. If sputum appears on exhalation, this is good.

Dry cough in an adult: treatment (video)

Getting rid of dry cough is not easy. You need to start treatment after the first signs of the disease. It is important to take care of prevention: wash your hands regularly, take vitamins, drink enough water, get vaccinated against influenza on time, use a bandage when in contact with the sick. It is necessary to take urgent measures at the first symptoms. You can use folk methods to combat cough, as a preventive measure or in combination with medications. But if the cough is continuous, suffocating, it is better to contact a specialist who will identify the cause of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Do not forget what a running cough can lead to.

There is hardly a person who is not familiar with such a phenomenon as a dry cough. The most well-known cause of such a cough to patients is colds (ARVI), but one should not forget that a variety of environmental factors, diseases of other organs and systems can also cause a dry cough.

Causes of dry cough and the mechanism of its occurrence

Dry cough is not accompanied by sputum, can be manifested by coughing, can be pronounced, paroxysmal and is a protective reflex aimed at clearing the airways in response to irritation of cough receptors.

Cough receptors are located in the pharynx, larynx, trachea, large bronchi, as well as in the external auditory canals, esophagus, pericardium (pericardial sac). The cough center is located in the medulla oblongata.

Irritants can serve as mechanical, chemical agents, thermal effects, inflammation.

In response to irritation of the cough receptors, a reflex opening of the glottis occurs, a deep breath. Then the upper respiratory tract closes, after which the internal intercostal and abdominal muscles sharply contract, intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressure increases. Then there is a reflex opening of the glottis, a pressure drop occurs and causes a sharp exhalation through the mouth. Thus, the airways are cleared of irritating agents.

Dry cough is a symptom of many diseases. However, it is not necessarily associated with any pathology and may be the result of irritating effects of various factors: dust, smoke, household chemicals, perfumes, and even stress.

Diseases accompanied by dry cough

Dry cough can be observed in diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the circulatory system, gastrointestinal tract, infection with worms, occupational diseases, systemic diseases. Dry cough can even appear from irritation of the cough receptors in the ear.

Dry cough in diseases of the respiratory tract

This is the most common cause of dry cough. It is characterized by an acute onset, an increase in body temperature to 38-40 degrees C during the day, may be accompanied by chills, weakness, a feeling of weakness, muscle and joint pain, headache, nasal congestion and dryness, perspiration, sore throat. Dry persistent cough often occurs on the 2nd-3rd day of illness, it may be accompanied by pain behind the sternum (as a manifestation of tracheitis). The skin becomes pale, moderate redness of the conjunctiva, redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Often, against the background of SARS, herpetic eruptions appear. There is a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate to 100-120 per minute. In severe forms, shortness of breath develops.

Acute viral disease, accompanied by fever, symptoms of intoxication, rash on the oral mucosa and skin, damage to the eyes (conjunctivitis) and upper respiratory tract. In the initial period, it is manifested by an increase in body temperature up to 38-39 degrees C, weakness, weakness, the patient's appetite decreases. There is a runny nose, redness of the eyes, a rough "barking" cough. A characteristic sign of measles are rashes on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, soft and hard palate in the form of whitish small spots surrounded by a red border. On the 4-5th day, a rash appears on the face and neck, the next day on the trunk, arms and thighs, a day later - on the shins and feet. The rash is small, irregularly shaped pink spots that can merge with each other. After 3-4 days from the appearance, the rash begins to fade: first it acquires brownish pigmentation, then peeling develops at the site of the rash. Body temperature during this period normalizes, catarrhal phenomena disappear. Immunity after measles is usually lifelong.

An acute infectious disease caused by a specific bacterium called Bordetellapertussis. Whooping cough is more common in children, but occasionally occurs in adults. The body temperature in such patients remains normal, as a rule, there are no symptoms of intoxication. A characteristic symptom of whooping cough is a pronounced dry paroxysmal cough. During an attack, redness of the face occurs, which is replaced by cyanosis (the skin becomes bluish due to a violation of the venous outflow), swelling of the cervical veins is noted, the tongue protrudes. Cough with whooping cough can persist from 2 to 6-8 weeks and in severe cases, the number of attacks can reach 30 times a day.

Pneumonia can be caused by various factors: viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic, toxic. The disease often has an acute onset. Chills appear sharply, body temperature rises to 38-40 degrees C. There is pain in the chest, most often in the lower lateral sections. The pain is aggravated by inhalation, during coughing. Shortness of breath develops. You can notice the backlog of half of the chest on the side of the lesion during breathing. Possible redness of the cheeks, cyanosis of the lips. It should be noted that a dry cough with pneumonia worries for 2-3 days, then sputum begins to separate.

The main symptom of dry pleurisy is pain in the side on the side of the lesion, more often in the anterior and lower lateral sections. The pain intensifies with a deep breath and during a cough, when the torso is tilted in a healthy direction. The cough is dry. There is a backlog of half of the chest on the side of the lesion, the patient often takes a position on the affected side. Body temperature rises to 38 ° C, with a mild course it can remain normal. The duration of dry pleurisy is 1-3 weeks and often ends in recovery. Sometimes the transition of dry pleurisy to exudative is possible.

In the case of the transition of dry pleurisy to exudative, a characteristic picture can be traced: pain in the side decreases sharply or disappears completely. At the same time, there is a feeling of heaviness, "congestion" in the chest, shortness of breath, cyanosis, swelling of the cervical veins, forced position of the patient on the sore side develops. Body temperature can rise to 39-40 ° C. If dry pleurisy did not precede the development of exudative, then after a period of weakness, a slight increase in body temperature for 2-3 weeks, all the above symptoms develop. This disease is also characterized by a dry cough.

A chronic disease of the respiratory tract, which is based on an inflammatory process with the development of a violation of bronchial patency. A characteristic symptom is suffocation, and breathing is difficult mainly on exhalation. The cough is usually dry. There may be wheezing that can be heard at a distance. Body temperature in most cases is normal, it rises only when a bacterial infection is activated.

Dry cough can also occur with tuberculosis, although it is not an obligatory symptom. Characteristic of this disease are an increase in body temperature of varying severity, sweating, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, irritability. In chronic forms, pain in the back, boring in nature, may appear. A strong dry cough most often develops with tuberculosis of the larynx and bronchi.

Dry cough in diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Inflammatory disease of the pericardial sac. In this case, pain in the region of the heart of varying intensity worries. The pain is not associated with physical activity, increases with breathing and decreases in a sitting position with a forward bend. Disturbed by shortness of breath during physical exertion. Dry cough develops due to the pressure of accumulated exudate on the trachea and bronchi. Possible swallowing disorder.

Dry cough in diseases of the digestive system

GERD or reflux esophagitis develops with a regular pathological reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation. A common symptom of GERD is a dry cough. In this case, the patient has no signs of pathology of the respiratory system. Characteristic signs of the disease are heartburn, sour eructation, chest pain, burning, and all these symptoms are aggravated by bending the body forward. Body temperature is usually normal.

The causative agent is Toxocara canis or dog roundworm. Infection occurs through contact with dogs, the use of contaminated products. It is clinically manifested by weakness, fever, itchy rash, dry paroxysmal cough, expiratory dyspnea (as in bronchial asthma), there may be an increase in the liver and spleen, sometimes severe damage to the eyes, nervous system (paresis, paralysis, epileptiform seizures).

The causative agent is echinococcus. The main source for humans is dogs, infection occurs when a person comes into contact with infected animals or when contaminated food and water are consumed. The liver is most often affected, followed by the lungs, less often other organs and systems are affected. Echinococcus larva is a bubble filled with liquid - echinococcus cyst. The cyst grows in the affected organ for years, grows, forms daughter cysts. It is manifested by weakness, various allergic manifestations - most often itchy skin rash, weight loss. In case of liver damage - pain in the right hypochondrium, liver enlargement, nausea, vomiting, stool disorders. Small echinococcal cysts in the lungs are often found incidentally on x-rays. The formation of large cysts in the lungs causes shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain, chest deformity.

Dry cough from drugs

Taking ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are one of the main groups of drugs used to treat cardiovascular diseases and are prescribed quite often. Sometimes they can cause a dry cough. In this case, the cough stops after discontinuation of the drug and does not require additional treatment.

Which doctor should I contact with a dry cough

If you have a cough, you should first consult a therapist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary list of studies and determine the cause. If the cough is a consequence of damage to the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, laryngitis), then further treatment will be carried out by the ENT. In the presence of a pathology of the lower respiratory tract, you need to consult a pulmonologist. With pulmonary tuberculosis, a narrow specialist, a phthisiatrician, is engaged in treatment. If the cough develops against the background of the pathology of the digestive system (GERD, esophageal diverticula), the patient will be treated by a gastroenterologist. If a cardiovascular pathology is detected, it is necessary to contact a cardiologist.

What tests to take if dry cough torments

In the presence of a cough, the examination of the patient includes:
- general blood analysis
- general urine analysis
- blood chemistry
- chest x-ray
- if bronchial asthma is suspected, a study of the function of external respiration (RF) is performed
- in case of suspicion of a pathology of the cardiovascular system, an ECG, ECHO-KG (ultrasound examination of the heart) is mandatory
- when indicating the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract - fibrogastroscopy (FEGDS)
- if helminthic invasion is suspected, serological reactions are carried out: RNGA, ELISA.
The examination will help to identify the cause of the cough and decide on further tactics.

Possible complications of dry cough

Often, patients are not serious about the appearance of a cough, they are treated on their own and not always competently, or they believe that the cough will go away on its own. This is the wrong approach, since any cough, even the most harmless at first glance, can lead to unpleasant health consequences.

In the absence of adequate and timely treatment, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis often become chronic.

Recently, one often has to deal with such a phenomenon as the syndrome tracheobronchial dyskinesia. It manifests itself with a long persistent paroxysmal "barking" cough, sometimes shortness of breath and even suffocation. It often develops after acute respiratory viral infections, when, it would seem, there are no longer any manifestations of the disease, blood tests and X-ray parameters are normal, and the cough does not stop and causes considerable inconvenience. It is a consequence of a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of the trachea, bronchi, deformation of the tracheal rings. Tracheobronchial dyskinesia, in turn, can go into, which is a decrease in the elasticity of the pulmonary alveoli, an increase in the airiness of the lung tissue, which also leads to respiratory failure.

Allergic cough, smoker's cough can turn into bronchial asthma.

Left untreated, pneumonia can lead to serious complications such as lung abscess (formation of a purulent cavity), which can in turn be complicated, for example, by pulmonary hemorrhage, abscess formation in other organs, and death.

Untimely treatment of cardiovascular pathology leads to the progression of the underlying disease. For example, pericarditis can cause cardiac tamponade, a condition where fluid buildup in the pericardial sac prevents the heart from beating adequately by compressing the chambers of the heart, which in turn can lead to cardiogenic shock.

How to get rid of dry cough

If a dry cough bothers you with "cold" diseases, you do not need to get rid of it, but you need to promote sputum production. Such drugs are called mucolytics. Pharmaceutical preparations for dry cough are diverse: herbion syrup with plantain, gedelix syrup, libexin, stoptussin, erespal in the form of tablets and syrup, rengalin - tablets and drops, sinekod syrup.

If a dry cough develops against the background of ARVI, treatment with antiviral drugs, antihistamine therapy, antipyretics, if necessary, is carried out.

In diseases caused by bacterial flora, antibiotics are used.

Despite the variety of pharmaceuticals, folk remedies are still very popular as symptomatic treatment. Here is some of them:

- add 1 teaspoon of oil and honey to 1 glass of warm milk, take 1-2 times a day 20 minutes before meals
- a good combination is radish juice with honey: make a deepening in the root crop, fill it with honey, in a day the radish will release juice, take this remedy 1 tablespoon 3 times a day
- a decoction of the leaves of the coltsfoot: pour 1 tablespoon of leaves (chopped) with boiling water and leave for 30 minutes, take the strained decoction 4-5 times a day, 1 tablespoon
- with a dry cough, rubbing the back with badger fat can be a good remedy.

If the cough is not a manifestation of diseases of the pulmonary system, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease, otherwise all attempts to get rid of the cough will fail.

Cough should not be ignored, it must be treated so that the process does not become chronic, complications do not develop. But we should not forget that self-treatment is dangerous and only a doctor will help you choose the remedy, taking into account all the indications and contraindications. Be healthy!

Therapist Gorlach Yu.A.

Cough is a protective reaction of the body to various irritants, which most often become various infections. Such a problem can occur in a person of any age at any time. Coughing brings a lot of discomfort, disrupting the usual way of life, especially annoying at night, when the body requires sleep and rest.

My dry cough story with a happy ending

Since childhood, I have often been ill with all sorts of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, so I know cough firsthand. When I moved out from my parents to live in my small apartment without a balcony, with cast-iron radiators that mercilessly dried the air in winter, laryngitis settled in my life. I coughed all the time, no medication helped, and more and more often ended in hospitalization. The situation was resolved when I changed my place of residence.

Having two children, getting sick for me has become an unaffordable luxury. When the youngest child was 1.5 months old, and the whole family was just lying with a fever, snot and cough, I almost got sick myself. It all started with a sore throat and a dry cough. But, since I was breastfeeding, I could not be treated with conventional adult medicines. My nocturnal bouts of dry cough began to wake up the baby, so I actively began treatment.

1. Nebulizer inhalations with the usual saline solution 4-5 times a day, in just a couple of days they saved me from the onset of a cold.
2. Whenever possible, I drove everyone into one room and ventilated the rest of the apartment.
3. I can't stand warm milk since childhood, but warm tea with chamomile and milk greatly relieved coughing fits.
4. Cough lozenges lysobact are allowed even during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They have antiseptic properties. Whether they had an effect, I did not understand. But just in case, I took it.
5. Gargle a solution of salt and soda after 2 times immediately eliminated the effect of perspiration. Baking soda is great at killing germs and viruses, but frequent gargling can dry out your throat, causing more coughing.
6. 2 humidifiers worked in our apartment non-stop for several days. As soon as they ran out of water, I immediately topped up with new water and turned it on again.

As a result, the cough stopped after a couple of days, and I felt that I had successfully coped with the disease with very humane measures.

A little about dry cough: its causes

Anything can cause a cough: from a banal ingestion of a foreign body in the throat to a tumor.

But still, the most common causes of this symptom can be:

• infections of various nature;
• allergy;
• excessively dry air;
• side effects of medications;
• an abundance of dust or chemical compounds in the inhaled air;
• neurological abnormalities.

If we are talking about the infectious nature of cough, then it can be caused by the following diseases:

• diseases of ENT organs (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, various acute respiratory viral infections);
• diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchial asthma);
• whooping cough;
• pulmonary tuberculosis.

Dry cough remedies in my first aid kit

Having tried many cough remedies, I have chosen for myself the most effective and safe drugs and methods that have shown their effectiveness in the treatment of viral diseases.

Medications

• Ascoril (syrup). Quite inexpensive, but very effective expectorant, which helps to quickly liquefy sputum and promotes its excretion. However, it cannot be used together with antitussives, otherwise all sputum will simply stop and remain inside.
• Lysobact. Antiseptic cough lozenges that help to cope with cough due to bactericidal action. They have practically no contraindications and help even my children very well.

• Tantum verde (spray, lozenges). A good anti-inflammatory with a pleasant mint flavor. It is also suitable even for children and quickly helps to cope with an attack of dry cough.
• Miramistin (spray). Has bactericidal action. It is effective in complex treatment, although it can independently help to cope with dry cough in the early stages of the disease.
• Prospan (syrup, drops). Expectorant, antitussive and antispasmodic, which is effective for any cough caused by a viral infection. Herbal preparation based on ivy leaf extract does not contain alcohol, sugar and dyes. Showed a good effect, but it appeared only on the third day of application. The cost is above average.
• ACC (effervescent tablets). The strongest and most effective remedy for dry cough, when it is necessary to thin the sputum as soon as possible. The result is felt after the first application. Do not take any other mucolytics while taking this medicine to avoid excessive sputum production, which can cause complications.

Folk remedies

• Breast collection. Has 4 categories depending on the severity of the disease. In all versions, there is chamomile, which has an antiseptic effect, and licorice root, which is rightfully recognized as one of the best folk remedies to combat dry cough.
• Linden tea with honey. Linden helps not only to cope with viruses, but also helps to reduce the temperature in the acute period of the disease. And honey is recognized as the best folk remedy for almost all diseases, including dry cough. However, honey is not recommended for allergy sufferers.
• Radish with honey. For cooking, they take a radish root, best of all black, cut a recess in the middle and pour it with honey for several hours. The resulting juice, mixed with honey, is consumed 1 spoon 3 times a day. I remembered this recipe from childhood, when my mother cooked it with a painful cough that did not allow me to sleep peacefully. Perhaps this has become the most effective folk remedy for coughs, which I now treat children with. The cough goes away incredibly quickly.

• Burnt sugar. Melt a few tablespoons of sugar in a metal saucepan until brown, scrape off with a spoon and wind the resulting caramel on sticks, and then cool. Oddly enough, such lozenges helped my daughter a lot, when in the first days of her illness, a terrible cough led to choking and vomiting.
• Peach oil. Helped me a lot with my laryngitis. Oil must be instilled into the nose so that it flows into the larynx. In addition to moisturizing action, peach oil is rich in natural antiseptic components.
• Gargling with herbal decoctions and soda. Possessing an antimicrobial effect, these solutions allow you to literally wash off the bulk of the bacteria in the oral cavity and disinfect it.

Other treatments

As my experience has shown, dry cough can be easily defeated absolutely without the use of drugs, if the disease is not too severe.

• This is the number 1 remedy in my family in the fight against dry cough. It is enough to make a few inhalations with saline or just salt water, as instant relief comes. Due to the fact that the liquid is sprayed into the oral cavity with cold steam, inhalations can be done even at elevated temperatures, at which steam inhalations over potatoes or hot water are contraindicated. The device is not cheap, but fully pays for its cost, thanks to the high efficiency of the application. The nebulizer quickly helped my children when they were sick at a very young age, when the use of many drugs is prohibited.
• Room humidification. Obviously, a dry cough must be treated with moist air, because such a cough may not necessarily appear due to an infection, but due to excessively dry air. If there is no humidifier in the house, then you can hang wet towels on radiators or arrange basins of water. This method helped me very quickly: turn on the hot water in the bathroom to the maximum, having previously closed the door to the room, and then sit there for several minutes, inhaling moist air.

• Salt solutions for washing the nasal cavity. With SARS, often a dry cough can be caused by the fact that the secret from the nose flows down the wall of the larynx and irritates it, causing a cough. In this case, it is enough to clear the nose by rinsing it with saline or sea water.
• Ice cream or ice water. Oddly enough, even with a sore throat, you can eat a spoonful of ice cream or drink a sip of cold water to eliminate an attack of dry cough. The cold will help constrict the blood vessels and relieve the sore throat, stopping the cough for a while. Of course, there is no need to drink buckets of cold water, but this remedy can be used if an attack of dry cough does not allow you to breathe freely and causes suffocation.

Useless methods of treating dry cough: what is not worth wasting time on?

1. Antihistamines. It is believed that anti-allergy drugs help relieve swelling of the mucous membranes, stopping coughing. In the case of allergies, they certainly help. However, it does not make any sense to use them against dry cough in infectious diseases. When my daughter coughed for several hours at a time at night, these remedies were completely ineffective.
2. Throat warming. Our mothers and grandmothers always tied scarves around their children's necks when they started to cough. Perhaps this method makes sense to use in complex treatment, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to heal a cough with a scarf alone.
3. Pepper plaster and mustard plasters. Previously, with these remedies, many tried to cure a cough, hoping for a warming effect. But not always a dry cough can be cured in this way, and in some cases it can even be harmful to health if an accurate diagnosis has not been made by a doctor.