Coughing is an involuntary reflex caused by irritation of the airways or nerve endings responsible for the reflex response.
Various conditions can provoke its appearance, since the characteristics of each type have significant differences.
Obsessive paroxysmal cough: how does it manifest?
Paroxysmal cough syndrome describes episodic coughing outbreaks characterized by periods of severe, almost continuous coughing.
In this condition, the formation of sputum does not occur, expectoration becomes impossible, which means that the lungs are not cleared. The patient coughs up only air, injuring the mucous membranes and provoking further complications.
Therefore, spasms of the airways often cause vomiting, rupture of capillaries and damage to the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
Depending on the extent, in medical practice it is customary to divide obsessive cough into three main categories:
- Acute – symptoms persist for up to three weeks, after which they disappear on their own;
- Subacute – lasts up to two months;
- Chronic – persists for more than two months.
What causes paroxysmal cough?
Most often, the causes of dry paroxysmal cough are inflammatory and allergic reactions, which cause irritation of the mucous airways.
However, this symptom is also typical for more serious health problems - diseases of the heart and blood vessels, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and other pathologies that, if left untreated, can lead to death.
It is impossible to restrain the cough reflex. To cope with it, you need to know the causes of paroxysmal cough.
Of course, there are pharmaceutical drugs that suppress the syndrome, but they do not eliminate the problem, but only temporarily relieve the symptom.
For recovery, it is important to determine what triggered it:
Acute respiratory infections or colds, which are characterized by a dry cough. This group of diseases includes influenza, laryngitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis and acute sinusitis. Viral infections that cause these illnesses include rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza, enterovirus, and metapneumovirus.
All of them provoke a dry, obsessive cough, which subsequently turns into a cough with sputum. An additional symptom is a runny nose. The problem usually resolves without serious therapy within one to two weeks. Sometimes the reflex persists for several weeks after other symptoms of an upper airway infection have resolved. Source: nasmorkam.
net Allergy. The body's reaction to an irritant often causes a cough attack. Allergens can include animal hair, plant pollen, room dust, household chemicals, cosmetic products, etc. In any case, without determining what exactly provokes the cough, it will not be possible to get rid of it.
Often the condition is accompanied by swelling of the face, nasal congestion, and headache.
Bronchitis and pneumonia. In the initial stages, it manifests itself as a dry cough, which appears in the first hours of the development of the disease and persists for up to 3-4 days. It is extremely difficult to soften it. Other symptoms are chest pain, lack of sputum, and vomiting.
For an accurate diagnosis, you must seek medical help and undergo testing. It cannot be treated with traditional methods, which often lead to negative results. Cardiovascular diseases.
Most often, a severe paroxysmal cough occurs during physical exertion and is accompanied by increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and pain in the heart area. In case of serious pathologies, blood may drain during coughing, which is explained by stagnation of blood in the lung. The characteristic bloody discharge is often mistaken for tuberculosis.
Oncological diseases of the respiratory system. If the cough reflex persists for more than a month, you should undergo appropriate tests and tests, since such a symptom may indicate the presence of a malignant tumor in the bronchopulmonary tree (trachea, throat, lungs and bronchi). In the initial stages of detection, the patient has every chance of recovery.
Whooping cough or Parawhooping cough. They remain one of the most important causes of paroxysmal cough. Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which are the causative agents of the disease, provoke the development of symptoms similar to a cold.
After about 1-2 weeks, patients develop a dry cough. His attacks are often so severe that the patient experiences blueness of the face and lips due to lack of oxygen. Tuberculosis. Paroxysmal spasmodic cough is characteristic of tuberculosis. In addition to the release of blood clots, there is an increase and long-term maintenance of temperature within the range of 37-37.5 degrees.
There are other possible causes of a dry, paroxysmal cough including:
- Stress, lack of sleep and poor diet can suppress the immune system;
- gastrointestinal reflux, bronchiectasis;
- taking certain medications;
- chronic exposure to irritants such as air pollution or cigarette smoke;
- accidental inhalation of a foreign body, such as small parts from children's toys.
There are many factors in the development of paroxysmal cough, and it is impossible to list them all. Therefore, it is prohibited to prescribe treatment on your own, so as not to provoke serious pathologies.
Diagnostics in a medical facility
Early contact with a general practitioner will allow you to correctly diagnose the disease, identify the root cause and develop an effective treatment plan.
For this purpose, the patient is recommended to conduct diagnostic studies:
- Physical examination, questioning, percussion and auscultation;
- X-ray and fluorography of the lungs;
- Blood tests to determine the allergen;
- Bronchoscopy;
- If necessary, talk with an allergist, gynecologist, cardiologist and other highly specialized specialists.
If the presence of neoplasms is suspected, a computed tomography scan is additionally prescribed. It is also necessary to exclude the possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Paroxysmal dry cough in an adult: first aid
Everyone knows that a paroxysmal cough at night poisons life, deprives you of sleep, and reduces activity. What to do to stop it at least for a while? You can use folk remedies.
It is necessary to choose an option that will help relieve the intensity of the cough reflex and maintain ability to work while undergoing the examination and choosing further therapy.
- Raise the pillow.
- Provide fresh air access to the room.
- Humidify the air.
- Give warm drink.
- Eliminate the influence of possible allergens.
- Gargle with furatsilin solution.
It is important to understand that any measures taken to stop the attack are only suitable when providing first aid at home. Using them constantly does not cure a cough.
- Hot milk with honey is used to soften the throat and enhance the secretory ability of the bronchi.
- Radish with honey can relieve severe paroxysmal coughs in adults. It blocks the cough reflex and softens the throat. To prepare the medicinal mixture, you need to select the pulp from the radish, fill it with honey and leave for a day. Take 1 tsp. up to 4 times per day.
- Onions with sugar also have the desired effect by suppressing the cough reflex. Peel the onion, cut into rings and cover with sugar. Leave for half a day. Consume the extracted juice throughout the day.
Symptomatic treatment can be used as part of complex therapy. To get rid of the underlying pathological process, antibiotic therapy and other medications may be required.
Paroxysmal cough in a child: how to help?
If a child has a dry paroxysmal cough, only a pediatric otolaryngologist should prescribe treatment.
Without knowing the true cause of the symptom, under no circumstances should you give antitussive drugs to children. Otherwise, there is a risk of complications.
Dry paroxysmal cough in an adult - what to do and how to stop the attack
With the ear, a paroxysmal cough can completely exhaust a person. Even when it is a normal protective reflex, it can be difficult to tolerate. When a disease accompanied by this symptom develops, the patient suffers seriously.
Cough accompanies many illnesses. It is because of him that they make themselves known so strongly. This condition continues until sputum begins to separate. But even then it is still necessary for it to completely leave the person’s respiratory tract.
Seeing a doctor in this case is an urgent need. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and select the necessary pharmacological drugs. If the patient is not provided with timely medical care, he may develop serious complications.
A dry paroxysmal cough is only a symptom of a certain disease, therefore the factors that cause it are classified for the most part in the same way.
The main reasons for its occurrence include:
- ARVI;
- flu;
- parainfluenza;
- bronchial asthma;
- allergic reactions;
- laryngitis;
- tracheitis;
- bronchitis;
- sinusitis;
- cold;
- pharyngitis;
- pneumonia;
- pleurisy;
- whooping cough;
- chronic smoking;
- tuberculosis;
- diseases of the esophagus;
- diseases of the thyroid gland;
- dustiness of the room;
- helminthiasis;
- side effects of pharmacological drugs;
- benign neoplasms;
- tumors;
- gastric reflux;
- nervous overstrain, etc.
They cause severe spasms and attacks of dry cough, which are very difficult for a person to cope with. As a result, he may develop nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, or suffocation.
If the diagnosis has already been made, this condition must be treated with medications.
If it occurs for the first time, then you need to urgently call a doctor. Only he knows exactly how to relieve a coughing attack. You should not try to do this yourself, as you can only worsen the patient’s well-being.
- The doctor will not only identify the pathology that caused bronchospasm, but will also prescribe specific medications specifically against it.
- For different diseases, the main manifestations vary significantly.
- With whooping cough, an attack of dry cough worsens at night. Sometimes it seems that a person is temporarily feeling better, but the severe bronchospasm that occurs significantly worsens his condition. Sometimes it is so strong that there is a urge to vomit. The patient's chest whistles and wheezes, and it may be difficult for him to catch his breath.
- Also, an attack of bronchial asthma most often develops at night. It is often accompanied by suffocation, severe headache, a significant increase in blood pressure and fever. Usually the patient already knows what is required in such cases and immediately takes the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
- When an allergy develops in the spring, during the flowering period, or upon contact with any agent foreign to the body, an attack of severe dry cough may occur, accompanied by severe chest pain. It appears due to significant swelling of the bronchial mucosa and is often accompanied by a runny nose, constant sneezing, nasal congestion and lacrimation. When contact with the allergen is interrupted or antihistamines are administered, the attack ends as quickly as it began.
- If bronchospasm occurs when a person gets out of bed and disappears when he lies back down, then in this case, most likely, we are talking about dry pleurisy.
Source: https://healthislife.ru/prostuda/proverennye-sposoby-kak-ostanovit-suhoj-pristupoobraznyj-kashel.html
Debilitating cough in an adult
A debilitating dry cough is a real tragedy for humans. And the peculiarity of this symptom is that it is not always clear what caused its appearance. Cough is a fairly common symptom, which is not even always associated directly with the bronchi and lungs. It can be a sign of a chronic inflammatory process, bronchial asthma, as well as many other ailments. If you notice a symptom such as a dry, debilitating cough, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the etiology of this symptom and begin treatment.
Causes of cough
Coughing is a reaction to various agents entering the bronchi, as well as a necessary act in order to free the bronchi from mucus.
If you observe short-term outbreaks of coughing, then the matter is most likely due to the entry of some bodies into the lumen of the bronchi. But if we are talking about a prolonged cough, then the reason is an acute or chronic inflammatory process.
Let's look at what diseases can cause a chronic dry cough to develop in an adult.
- Acute respiratory tract infections. They are usually accompanied by other symptoms: runny nose, fever, and so on. The cause of such a cough is infection with infectious agents, namely viruses. Only they can lead to rapid development of the disease with obvious symptoms.
- A dry cough in an adult can appear not only due to diseases in the bronchi, but also when the larynx and trachea are affected. In this case, the cough is caused by irritation of the mucous membranes of these parts of the respiratory system and can be relieved by using an enveloping spray.
- Chronical bronchitis. This disease is very insidious, not only because it can worsen at any inconvenient moment. There are a whole variety of chronic respiratory diseases, which mainly develop from chronic bronchitis. Most often, this disease is characterized by constant coughing for several weeks or even a month, and then is replaced by a period of remission.
- Bronchial asthma. During physical activity or after exposure to an allergen, a debilitating cough begins, shortness of breath, and the person literally suffocates. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment. You just need to avoid contact with allergens and stop the symptoms as they appear.
- Whooping cough. This disease most often affects children under 15 years of age. It is characterized by similar symptoms to the common cold, but its course is much more dangerous.
- People with heart disease often complain that their cough is debilitating. This is due to the fact that the heart cannot cope with its function of transmitting oxygenated blood to all organs and the lungs try to compensate for this defect by activating their work, which is not good.
- A debilitating cough in an adult may not be associated with the lower respiratory tract, but may occur due to chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, in which secretions roll into the respiratory tract, irritate the mucous membrane and cause a cough in a person.
- Helminthiases. Ascaris goes through one of the stages of its life in the human lungs and always causes a cough. If it literally exhausts you, there is reason to think about checking for helminths. The fact is that the roundworm, having lived one of the episodes of its life cycle in the lungs (still at the egg stage), wants to get into the digestive system, and for this the eggs must be coughed out.
- Tuberculosis. Now this disease has become especially common. If previously it was possible to say with certainty that consumption occurs mainly among people of “lower society,” now there are no such strict statistics. Among ordinary people on the street, there may be many carriers of Koch's bacillus, people with an open form of the disease. If you suspect tuberculosis, you should visit an appropriate specialist and have a fluorography of the lungs or an x-ray done.
- Reflux disease, in which stomach contents back up into the esophagus and irritate it, which can also cause coughing.
- Oncology. Lung cancer often manifests itself as a symptom such as cough. And precisely because of this, it is not always possible to understand in a timely manner that it is he. A person is treated for a cold or pneumonia, and if the cancer is already at a late stage and has metastasized, then such treatment only accelerates the development of the tumor and, as a result, when it is detected, it is no longer possible to do anything.
As you can see, a constant dry cough is not a joke or a toy. Having discovered it in yourself, you should immediately begin treatment. It is best if it is prescribed to you by a doctor, because he is able to correctly assess all the risks, identify the etiological factor, and select the most optimal medications in terms of effectiveness and harmlessness.
We also suggest that you read the article “How does a cough manifest in tuberculosis?”
What else can influence the appearance of a dry cough?
Although the etiological factors themselves are listed above, there are a number of irritants that can affect the bronchial mucosa and irritate it, thereby causing cough.
- Stress. In difficult situations, a person releases quite a lot of adrenaline, which can also affect the bronchial tubes that are sensitive to it, which causes a cough;
- Polluted air. In a dusty office, on the street where there is a lot of traffic, as well as in smoking areas, similar symptoms may appear. This point also applies to people who work in hazardous industries and are constantly in contact with substances that irritate the respiratory system;
- If you have recently had bronchitis or pneumonia, there may be residual effects in the form of a cough. It should go away on its own within a month;
- The air in the room is too dry. It is necessary to maintain optimal humidity from 30% to 60% to avoid this phenomenon;
- If you take several incompatible medications at the same time, a cough may develop. For example, this happens in the case of simultaneous use of ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and psychotropic drugs;
- Excessively hot or cold air can also cause a cough.
These causes of cough are not associated with diseases, but if you are constantly under the influence of negative factors, the condition can worsen and a simple cough can develop into something more serious.
Good to know - What are the causes of a persistent cough?
Features of dry cough in various diseases
- With inflammatory processes in the larynx or pharynx, a so-called “barking” cough usually occurs, by which these ailments, in fact, can be easily identified;
- Pleurisy (that is, inflammation of the lining of the lungs) is characterized by a small but very strong annoying cough;
- Whooping cough in a child or teenager may be accompanied by convulsive movements, convulsions, and during coughing, red sputum appears, and vomiting is possible;
- The bronchial mucosa can also react irritably to inflammatory processes in nearby lymph nodes;
- Pneumoconiosis is characterized by a continuous, severe cough in an adult;
- Cough with whistling is a symptom of chronic instructive pulmonary disease, asthma;
- If you have sputum, you should evaluate its condition. Most often, a dry cough turns into a wet cough with bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis;
- An incessant dry cough that leaves no strength can be a symptom of a tumor in the lungs.
But only an experienced doctor, after carrying out all the necessary tests and analyses, can confirm a particular diagnosis.
You may be interested in the article - Dry cough in an adult, treatment at home.
How to help yourself
Until you visit a doctor, you can do a few simple procedures that will help you feel better and forget about the symptoms of the disease for a while. Such events include:
- Cleaning the room, ensuring optimal air humidity to reduce the load on diseased bronchi;
- Consuming as much warm tea as possible with medicinal herbs and jam. This helps remove toxins faster and partially remove pathogenic microorganisms;
- Inhalations. If you do not have a fever, you can do inhalations using a nebulizer, adding infusions of medicinal herbs and alkaline water.
You may be interested in the article - How to properly use cough sprays?
How to treat a dry debilitating cough in an adult
So that the patient no longer coughs and feels better and recovers, the doctor chooses the most rational treatment.
We will indicate only some drugs that can be used to treat cough.
- Mucolytics and expectorants. The first thing to do with a dry cough associated with bronchial diseases is to transform it into a wet state. Therefore, doctors prescribe drugs with exactly this effect. These include Licorice Root, Mukaltin, Sinekod, Stoptussin . A dry cough is sterile and does not help the body recover, but is only a consequence of irritation of the bronchi. The use of these drugs helps to transform the cough into a productive state. Adults can take the drug in both tablets and syrups.
- Antitussive drugs. They do not treat cough, but act on the autonomic nerve fibers that locally regulate this process. These include Codelac Bronch o.
- Antibiotic drugs ( Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone ) can only be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the characteristics of a particular inflammation or after microscopy of a smear, during which it became clear which pathogen affected the body.
- Macrolides ( Azithromycin, Clarithromycin ) and antihistamines can help with allergic reactions. Patients with asthma are prescribed the purchase of special aerosols that they should carry with them.
- Antifungal drugs are also prescribed by a doctor if a fungal infection is suspected, and there are specific microscopy results confirming it.
- Homeopathic medicines are also widely used for cough. It may include belladonna, opium and other herbal active substances as components. They are present in minimal doses in the preparations, so homeopathy is used even for children.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce swelling and remove fever - Nurofen, Paracetamol .
- Bronchodilators expand the constricted bronchi, making breathing easier and coughing reduced.
- Medicines for heartburn and dyspepsia, if the cause lies in the contents of the stomach entering the esophagus.
- Chemotherapy for oncology.
Good to know - How to properly treat an old cough?
In most cases, only a doctor can determine which drug to prescribe. You can help yourself with commonly available simple drugs, as well as traditional medicine.
You might be interested in the article - Why does a dry cough with bronchitis not go away and how to treat it?
Folk recipes
We will mention several of the most popular remedies for dry cough, which were known to our grandmothers:
- Tea made from viburnum berries, when well brewed, can work real miracles. You can also add honey to it to reduce the severity of the cough reflex.
- Warm milk and cocoa butter. Just heat a cup of milk and put a small piece of butter in it. It is enough to take once before bedtime.
- Oatmeal with honey. It is not only nourishing and tasty, but also useful for coughs. True, you should cook the oatmeal for half an hour with plenty of water.
- Black radish with honey (or rather, radish juice) works well for dry coughs.
- Gargling with solutions of soda and salt copes well with inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx cavity.
- Inhalations with essential oils.
Remember that traditional medicine may not be effective, so you should stop treatment and consult a doctor if a significant and noticeable therapeutic effect has not been achieved in 2-3 days.
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Source: https://nasmork.net/iznuryayushhij-kashel-u-vzroslogo/
How to stop a dry cough attack
If we compare dry and wet cough, then in the first case the danger for the patient is much higher, and the course of the disease is much more severe. With a dry cough, sputum is not removed, the bronchi and other respiratory tracts are not cleared of mucus and pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, secretory fluid accumulates and intensifies inflammatory processes. Very often the problem arises of how to stop an attack of dry cough and stop the torment of a patient experiencing unpleasant painful sensations, including the gag reflex.
What causes a dry cough?
Before dealing with attacks, it is necessary to clarify the nature of this phenomenon, the reason why the occurrence of a dry cough became possible. In most cases, it appears as a result of infectious and viral diseases, however, there are other factors that need to be known and taken into account when choosing treatment tactics.
Very often, coughing serves as a defense for the body, occurring at a reflex level. Cough occurs under the influence of irritating factors or when foreign objects enter the respiratory tract. The action of the reflex leads to clearing of the bronchi and restoration of normal breathing.
The cause can be preliminarily determined by the nature of the attacks. If they begin abruptly, especially at night, we can safely assume the presence of foreign objects in the respiratory tract.
When coughing attacks occur in a persistent, acute form, this is highly likely to indicate an infectious lesion of the respiratory system. The patient can remain in this condition for two weeks.
If a dry cough is observed for more than two months, then it is quite possible that the chronic form of the disease manifests itself in this way.
Often the appearance of a debilitating night cough is caused by bronchial asthma, as well as allergic reactions, laryngitis, pharyngitis, whooping cough, pneumonia, heart failure and other serious diseases. In some cases, the cough is accompanied by swelling of the larynx, causing suffocation and breathing problems.
At home, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of a dry cough. However, knowing the symptoms of underlying diseases, it is quite possible to take urgent measures before the doctor arrives.
Manifestations of dry cough in various diseases
Unproductive coughing manifests itself in different ways, depending on a particular disease. The most characteristic symptoms of the most common pathologies include the following:
- During whooping cough, coughing attacks worsen at night. During this period, situations arise when, after some improvement, the patient becomes significantly worse due to severe bronchospasm, up to the urge to vomit. Whistling and wheezing sounds are heard in the chest area, breathing becomes difficult.
- Bronchial asthma, in addition to coughing, is accompanied by attacks of suffocation, severe headaches, and increased blood pressure. In such cases, proven medications prescribed by a doctor and taken immediately after the onset of an attack help.
- Allergic reactions. They are especially acute in the spring, when trees and other plants bloom. When exposed to such agents, a severe dry cough occurs and severe pain is felt in the chest. The cause is severe swelling of the bronchial mucosa, along with a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion.
- With dry pleurisy, a nonproductive cough occurs in a person who has risen to his feet. After the patient goes back to bed, this symptom disappears.
Source: https://medic-z.ru/kak-ostanovit-pristup-suhogo-kashlja
Cough is persistent and incessant
A prolonged, incessant cough is a symptom indicating a severe form of an infectious disease or a number of internal pathologies. Prolonged exposure to the mucous membrane causes irritation, which is accompanied by a sore throat, breathing problems and a deterioration in the patient’s general condition. To eliminate such consequences, it is necessary to start treatment on time.
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How to treat a persistent cough
Prolonged cough in adults appears as a result of the following predisposing factors:
- Ineffective or late fight against signs of diseases of the respiratory system.
- Incorrect or untimely treatment of colds and viral infections.
- Vulnerability to allergic reactions.
- Chronic lung lesions (bronchial asthma, tuberculosis).
- Stressful impact.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Malignant tumors and oncology.
- Mechanical damage to the respiratory tract, burns or penetration of foreign objects.
If there is a cold or infection, the patient's body temperature may rise. It is also possible to develop a cough that becomes incessant and dry (in adults, symptoms are more severe than in children). To start the process of cleaning the lungs and speed up recovery, you need to transfer it into a wet form.
If a persistent cough is accompanied by sputum production, this may be due to an incorrect diagnosis. Late identification of the causative agent of the disease makes drug treatment useless. Subsequently, sputum ceases to be normally separated from the mucous membrane, accumulates in the respiratory tract and begins to become chronic.
If an adult patient suffers from chronic pneumonia or tuberculosis, in addition to general weakness and high body temperature, which is not reduced by medications, he develops a prolonged cough with painful symptoms.
In search of an effective remedy to eliminate the problem, many people start taking antibiotics or refuse treatment, arguing that the body itself must overcome the infection or virus. But carrying the disease on the legs leads to a worsening of the health condition, contributing to the development of a chronic disorder with complications.
Often, a persistent cough occurs due to non-compliance with doctor’s recommendations or illiterate treatment. Patients can take prescribed medications only until the first signs of relief, forgetting about completing the full course. This leads to a temporary reduction in symptoms, but increases the risk of relapse due to associated adverse factors, including:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Stress.
- Infections and viruses.
A prolonged cough in an adult or a wet cough in a child often occurs without symptoms such as fever. A similar phenomenon occurs when the body is exposed to allergens, hay fever or contact with household chemicals. The causative agent of the allergic reaction leads to intense watery eyes, sore throat and coughing.
If the symptom occurs without an increase in temperature, this may be due to work in hazardous enterprises, constant exposure to chemicals and dust. Abuse of bad habits, including smoking, is a key cause of the development of respiratory tract diseases.
There are times when a person begins to suffer from a cough after emotional upheaval or a stressful situation. The most dangerous form is a persistent cough producing dark sputum. This sign is the first signal about the development of an oncological process in the organs of the respiratory system.
If you have a persistent, lingering cough that lasts more than a month, you should not self-medicate. Instead, you need to seek help from a clinic and determine the extent and form of the disease. Only a specialist can determine the clinical picture, make a diagnosis and find the optimal treatment method.
If a child develops a prolonged cough, the causes should be sought not only in pathologies of the respiratory tract, but also in diseases of other important organs and systems. Often, a child exhibits a symptom due to a specific reaction of the body to environmental influences.
If it is in a dusty room that does not meet sanitary standards, dust particles accumulate on the mucous membrane, causing a problem. In this case, respiratory pathologies will not be detected.
The following factors also contribute to the development of a persistent cough:
- Relapses of previous diseases.
- Constant contact with tobacco smoke, dust and other substances that irritate the mucous membranes.
- A severe form of a cold or infectious disease.
- Allergy.
- Penetration of foreign objects into the respiratory tract.
- Emotional turmoil or severe stress.
- Constant hypothermia of the body.
- Inflammation in the nasal sinuses.
- Prolonged use of antibiotics and non-compliance with dosage.
Cough (long-term dry) in a child also occurs against the background of complications of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and influenza. Worsening symptoms increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis.
It is also necessary to take into account the risk of damage to the respiratory tract, which is why restoration of the mucous membrane takes a long time.
Medications for persistent cough
Before you begin to fight a lingering cough, it is necessary to eliminate the negative factors that contribute to its development. First of all, it is worth ensuring optimal air humidity in the room, regularly cleaning surfaces from household dust, carefully choosing cosmetics and household chemicals, and monitoring your diet.
People often think that a persistent cough is the result of an allergic reaction, but this is not always true. To eliminate symptoms, doctors recommend:
- Drink as much fluid as possible to improve hydration of the mucous membrane and provide it with reliable protection from damage.
- Carry out wet cleaning and fight dust in the room. Reducing the level of harmful particles in the air will have a positive effect on cough treatment.
- Place a special device for air humidification in the apartment.
- Start strengthening the immune system. The tips listed above are justified only in the early stages of the development of a long-term cough. If symptoms worsen, you will need to start drug treatment. When choosing drugs, it is necessary to take into account the clinical picture and predisposing factor:
- If the patient suffers from a dry cough that is not associated with allergies, he is prescribed mucolytics and recommended to drink plenty of fluids. If you follow simple rules, within a couple of days the patient will begin to produce sputum. After this, the use of mucolytic drugs is suspended, replacing them with expectorants.
- If a dry cough develops due to diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, in addition to mucolytics, you can take antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
- Expectorants are effective against wet coughs. They are taken together with folk remedies and antibiotics. If purulent discharge is present in the sputum, it is necessary to use highly effective antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Folk remedies
Many parents refuse to take medications, starting to treat their child’s cough with folk remedies. A large selection of effective herbs with anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects allows you to combat even prolonged symptoms.
When choosing an effective remedy, you must be guided by the following recommendations.
- Chamomile tea is the best remedy for eliminating phlegm and wheezing in a child.
- Oak bark decoction is characterized by anti-inflammatory and astringent effects that suppress the activity of pathogenic agents in the respiratory system.
- A decoction of garlic, honey and milk has an enveloping effect that eliminates lingering symptoms in adult patients.
In addition to means for internal use, a persistent and dry cough in an adult can be eliminated with external means, including compresses, mustard plasters and inhalations.
Essential oils help treat a persistent cough. Read here
Source: https://RuPulmonolog.ru/kashel-simptomy-lechenie/zatyazhnoj
How to treat dry paroxysmal cough in adults
A dry paroxysmal cough is a convulsive contraction of the muscles of the bronchopulmonary system. It is accompanied by suffocation, vomiting, and chest pain. To get rid of obsessive attacks, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease manifested by this symptom.
Features
A dry paroxysmal cough lasts 1-2 minutes. All this time the patient cannot take a deep breath and relax the body. He sits in a tense position, leaning forward. Such attacks deplete the body of an adult. Therefore, without treatment, the underlying disease progresses, and inflammation spreads to neighboring organs.
Vomiting during a paroxysmal dry cough does not always indicate digestive disorders. The reason for this concomitant symptom is the proximity of the cough and vomiting centers in the cerebral cortex.
In case of allergies, attacks of dry cough are accompanied by lacrimation, rhinitis, sneezing, and swelling of the throat. The intensity of symptoms increases upon contact with the allergen. And the inability to clear the throat causes pain in the chest and throat in an adult.
An increase in paroxysmal dry cough at night is characteristic of bronchial asthma, whooping cough, and parawhooping cough. In the morning hours, this symptom becomes more active in adult heavy smokers. During the day, attacks bother people suffering from pleurisy.
First aid for paroxysmal cough
Diseases that manifest themselves as paroxysmal dry coughs often require complex long-term treatment. Therefore, an adult needs to know how to provide first aid, stop an attack and ease breathing.
- Take a sitting position.
- Unbutton the collar of your clothing.
- Open the window (during the warm season).
- Place a wet towel on the radiator (during the cold season).
- Drink warm milk with soda, suck a teaspoon of honey or cough drops.
There are medications (Omnitus, Sinekod) that can stop an attack, regardless of the cause of its occurrence. They act directly on the cough center of the brain, inhibiting its activity. This method of first aid is justified in extreme cases, since the pills do not cure the disease, but only stop the debilitating symptom.
You can stop the attack with the help of inhalation drugs (Berotec, Berodual). The medicinal liquid in them is in a steel cylinder. When you press the lid, it is converted into tiny particles of steam, which enter the respiratory tract with pressure. The medicine instantly relieves bronchospasm and makes breathing easier, but it also does not eliminate the cause of the disease.
Diagnostic methods
At the appointment, the doctor asks about the characteristics of the attacks and accompanying symptoms. He examines an adult patient, listens to his breathing through a phonendoscope, and taps the lungs using percussion. Next, the doctor prescribes laboratory diagnostics:
- urine and blood analysis;
- fluorography;
- examination of sputum, throat smear;
- bronchoscopy.
If the presence of a neoplasm is suspected, a computed tomography scan of the chest is prescribed.
What diseases cause paroxysmal cough
Attacks of dry cough are a symptom of many diseases of the respiratory system. They arise after an attack by various pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, allergens) and disappear after long-term complex treatment.
Bronchial asthma
A dry paroxysmal cough leading to vomiting is characteristic of the early stage of bronchial asthma. It appears in adults whose bronchi show hypersensitivity to allergens. After contact with dust, mold or other irritants, they spasm, which causes attacks.
As first aid, inhaled medications are prescribed to relieve spasms. The main treatment includes taking anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, and immunostimulating drugs. An adult should avoid contact with the allergen and remove spicy, hot and cold foods from the diet.
Whooping cough and parawhooping cough with dry cough
The cause of the development of these diseases is the attack of pertussis and parapertussis bacteria. They enter the adult body by airborne droplets and settle in the bronchioles and alveoli. Constant irritation of the respiratory tract receptors causes a dry paroxysmal cough leading to vomiting.
Whooping cough is considered a more severe disease. Its treatment is carried out inpatiently in the clinic, and parawhooping cough is most often cured after home therapy. In both cases, doctors prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antitussives and expectorants.
Dry pleurisy
Pleurisy or inflammation of the pleura occurs due to unsuccessful surgery, trauma, and also as complications of other diseases of the respiratory system. In the dry type of the disease, the cause of paroxysmal cough is exposure to allergens and digestive enzymes (in acute pancreatitis).
To treat dry pleurisy in an adult, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, effective methods of combating the disease are tight bandaging of the lower parts of the chest, application of an iodine mesh, warm compresses, and switching to a special diet.
Malignant and benign tumor
A dry paroxysmal cough is sometimes a symptom of the appearance of a neoplasm in the organs of the respiratory system. The growing tumor compresses them and irritates the cough receptors. Without treatment, it can clog the lumen of the bronchi, make breathing difficult, and lead to attacks of vomiting.
During diagnosis, the location, size and nature of the tumor are determined. Next, surgery is performed to remove the tumor. If the cancer is inoperable, symptomatic treatment of cough with anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating drugs is prescribed.
Inflammation of the trachea and paroxysmal cough in adults
The causative agents of the disease can be bacteria, viruses, allergens. Initially they attack the nasopharynx of an adult. But if treated incorrectly, the inflammation spreads to the trachea. The disease is manifested by paroxysmal cough, high fever, weakness, and loss of appetite.
During diagnosis, the pathogen is determined. Next, the doctor prescribes antibiotics, antihistamines or antiviral drugs. Anti-inflammatory aerosols are used as first aid for attacks. During treatment, an adult limits physical activity and switches to a gentle diet.
Preventive measures
After successful treatment of a disease manifested by paroxysmal dry cough, it is important to prevent relapse. To do this, you need to get rid of bad habits and take simple preventive measures.
- Treat colds in a timely manner.
- Do fluorography annually.
- Do physical exercise and sports.
- Take regular walks.
- Carry out hardening procedures.
- Ventilate the apartment.
- Take vitamin complexes.
If all the rules are followed, the immunity of an adult is strengthened. His body responds better to treatment and recovers faster from an attack by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Source: https://stop-kashel.ru/kak-lechit-suhoj-pristupoobraznyj-kashel-u-vzroslyh/
What is residual cough, its diagnosis and treatment methods
Everyone is familiar with the situation when, after a respiratory tract infection, an obsessive dry cough bothers you for a long time. The fever has already passed, the condition has returned to normal, the doctor closes the sick leave, but the illness continues. It is believed that the residual cough goes away on its own when the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is restored. But there are several recommendations that will help speed up this process.
What is residual cough, its signs and symptoms
Residual cough is a symptom that continues after the acute infection has subsided and the patient’s condition has normalized. It can last up to 8 weeks.
To understand whether a residual cough is contagious, you need to understand the mechanisms of its development. A symptom is considered residual when the body temperature normalizes, there is no intoxication, purulent sputum ceases to be coughed up, that is, the stage of recovery from illness begins when there is no infectious agent in the body. Therefore, residual cough is not contagious to others.
Other signs of the symptom:
- Appears approximately 7-10 days after a viral respiratory disease and 10-14 days after a bacterial process.
- More often it bothers you at night and in the morning.
- Attacks intensify when breathing dry, hot, very cold air, or in stressful situations.
- The condition is relieved by breathing moist air.
- It happens spontaneously.
More often, the cause of residual cough is a previous respiratory viral infection, in which case the symptom is called post-viral.
Important! After a bacterial infection, residual cough may also be bothersome. But if purulent sputum appears and the temperature rises, then you need to consult a doctor, since, most likely, the infection has worsened.
Causes of post-infectious cough
The pathological condition is due to the fact that during infection with viruses and bacteria, the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi is damaged, and hemorrhages, swelling, and inflammation form on it. After the infectious pathogen is destroyed, damaged tissues need time to recover.
During the recovery period, cough receptors continue to react, since the bronchi and trachea cannot function normally, and a cough develops, mostly dry.
Mucus is synthesized in greater quantities than normal, so sometimes sporadic wheezing and coughing up thick, clear sputum may appear.
Diseases that can provoke residual effects:
- Pharyngitis.
- Tracheitis.
- Bronchitis.
- Pneumonia.
Important! The condition worsens if the patient smokes. In this case, the cough may become permanent, which indicates chronic bronchitis, and not residual symptoms.
How to cure residual cough
The symptom does not require treatment. It goes away on its own within a few weeks, during which the mucous membrane completely regenerates. But you can help your body get rid of the disease faster, especially since in the autumn-spring period there is a chance of becoming infected again if the respiratory system does not restore its protective mechanisms.
Residual cough can be treated using the following methods:
- Drug therapy, which includes distraction agents and antitussives.
- Physiotherapy with warming up the chest.
- Inhalations to moisturize and accelerate the healing of the respiratory mucosa.
Also, during the recovery period after a cold, it is recommended to prevent re-infection:
- If possible, avoid appearing in places with large crowds of people.
- Rinse your nose with isotonic saline solutions, this will wash away viruses and bacteria from the mucous membrane and do not have time to cause inflammation.
- Drink plenty of warm water for the same reason, to wash away infectious pathogens.
- Ventilate the apartment daily.
Drug treatment
For residual cough, it is not advisable to treat with expectorants and mucolytics, because this will only provoke the continuation of the disease.
Distraction aids that help many people include menthol and eucalyptus lozenges. When lollipops are absorbed, substances are gradually absorbed through the mucous membrane of the cheeks and sublingual area. After taking the medicine, people stop coughing for several hours. This control of residual cough is important for working and student patients.
Examples of lollipops:
- Dr. Theiss.
- Doctor Mom.
- Strepsils with menthol.
- Roshen candies with eucalyptus and menthol.
- Hall's with menthol.
Also, drugs that help with residual symptoms include antitussives. Their action is based on suppressing the cough reflex at the level of the central nervous system. These medications are recommended to treat only dry and severe coughs. If there is still mucus discharge, then the antitussive medicine contributes to its stagnation and continuation of the disease.
Examples of drugs:
- Sinecode, which is based on butamirate citrate. The active substance blocks the activity of the cough center, dilates the bronchi, and relieves inflammation. The drug can be taken during pregnancy, but only in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. The drug is also prescribed to children for whooping cough. The medicine is available in syrup and drops. Analogues: Codelac Neo, Omnitus.
- Tusuprex. Does not depress breathing. Recommended for use only in adults; children can use it in exceptional cases. Analogues: Tussilizin, Paxeladin.
- Sedotussin, which consists of pentoxyverine. The medicine inhibits the cough center, expands the lumen of the bronchi, thereby eliminating dry cough. It is forbidden to use by pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under 1 year of age. Analogues: Pentoxyverine.
- Erespal is a drug with anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and bronchodilator effects. Can be prescribed to children from 2 years of age. The drug is prohibited for pregnant women. The product consists of syrup and tablets. Analogues: Erispirus, Fenspiride.
Products with codeine can also relieve residual cough, but their side effects are so serious that their use is inappropriate.
Interesting! You can cure a cough after a cold by eating dark chocolate. This effect is due to the content of theobromine in chocolate, a substance that can suppress the cough center better than Codeine and dilate the bronchi. To achieve a therapeutic effect, you need about 70 grams of chocolate per day.
Warming, compress and massage
Residual cough after an infectious disease of the lungs and bronchi can be treated with warming and massage.
Warming up can be done at home using potatoes or salt. At home you need to boil the potatoes. Next, you should knead it and lay it on a towel. The patient lies on his back, a towel is placed on the chest, and a bundle of potatoes is placed on top. The person can be covered with a blanket.
Before using salt, you need to heat it in a frying pan. Next, put it in a bag and place it on your chest. Warm up every other day for half an hour.
The compress is prepared from alcohol mixed with water in a ratio of 1:2, or you can take vodka. A towel or napkin is wetted and placed on the chest. You need to put cellophane or cling film on top, and then dress the person and cover him. This compress can be kept until it dries or left overnight.
Back massage is effective after suffering from bronchitis or pneumonia. At the beginning of the session, the skin is warmed up by rubbing with massage oil. The procedure itself consists of vibration created by the fingers, which helps to cough up any remaining mucus. The session lasts up to 10 minutes, a total of 5-10 procedures should be performed.
Inhalations for residual cough
Inhalations are carried out with herbal decoctions, essential oils, and medications. It is more effective to use a special device - a nebulizer, but if you don’t have one, a large pan over which you can breathe will do.
Herbs for inhalation:
Dry herbs can be mixed and pour 2-3 tablespoons into a pan of water. If a nebulizer is used, then filtered infusion should be poured into it.
Essential oils are used 2-3 drops per liter of water.
Examples of oils:
- Eucalyptus.
- Anise.
- Mint.
- Pines.
You can add 0.9% sodium chloride solution to the nebulizer, Essentuki. You can use the Soda Buffer drug for severe residual cough.
Conclusion
If a residual cough bothers you for more than a week, you need to start treating it. Methods should be selected in order of strength of impact on the body. First try warming up, inhalations, compresses, lozenges. If the cough continues, but without worsening, you should start taking antitussives. It is best to consult a doctor for advice.
Source: https://MyKashel.ru/vidy/ostatochnyj-kashel.html