Allergy is a serious problem of our time. Every year the palette of allergens becomes more diverse. One of the manifestations of the body's reaction is coughing.
Is it possible to cure an allergic cough, and how to do it - questions that interest everyone.
Etiopathogenesis
Allergy is a pathological immune response of the body to the invasion of a foreign agent. What happens when an allergen enters the body?
The body begins to intensively release inflammatory substances from cells, one of which is histamine. This is a mediator of an allergic reaction, which, when activated, binds to type H1 histamine receptors in the intestines, blood vessels and bronchi. This chain leads to a variety of biochemical and physiological effects.
The mucous membrane of the bronchial tree swells, the lumen of the bronchi narrows, and mucus may appear in the lumen. The body's response to difficulty breathing is a cough. However, the presence of an allergen prevents this reflex action from being resolved productively.
The inability to remove the allergic substance closes the circle: a new release of histamine occurs with a repetition of the described reactions.
What can cause an allergic reaction? Pathogens can be everywhere:
- dust mites;
- wool and dander of domestic and wild animals;
- plant pollen;
- household chemicals, cosmetics, perfumes;
- molds;
- medicines;
- natural foods and preservatives.
Factors predisposing to the development of allergies:
- the presence of allergic reactions in close relatives;
- work in hazardous production;
- smoking;
- unfavorable environmental situation in the place of residence.
Symptoms
Before answering the question of how to treat allergic cough in adults, you need to clarify the nature of this reflex. An allergic cough can be identified by the following signs.
- The nature of the cough is dry, often unproductive or unproductive, paroxysmal, sudden, prolonged, lasting for several weeks or months.
- The appearance of a cough after contact with an allergen.
- A cough may be accompanied by a runny nose with mucous discharge, lacrimation, itching and redness of the skin.
- The cough is not accompanied by hyperthermia and other signs of respiratory infection.
- A frequent companion to an allergic cough is a feeling of suffocation and, as a result, panic. More often this happens at night.
- Seasonality of cough. For example, a cough in April may be associated with the flowering of birch trees and the development of an allergic reaction to the pollen of this plant. Similarly, in May and June there is a reaction to the flowering of cereal crops.
- The cough decreases or disappears when taking antihistamines.
Diagnosis of allergens
Upon examination, the doctor may detect swelling of the laryngeal mucosa.
Hereditary history, characteristic complaints of the patient and the connection of the condition with the allergen suggest the diagnosis of an allergic reaction.
Verification of the diagnosis will be helped by allergy scarification tests - clarification of the type of allergic substance by applying a drop of allergen to the damaged skin and monitoring further reactions.
Note! Contraindications to allergy tests are respiratory diseases, pregnancy and previous use of antihistamines.
- Consultation with an otolaryngologist is necessary to exclude chronic diseases of the ENT organs.
- Spirography will reveal obstruction of the bronchial tree.
- The allergic nature of the cough is confirmed if the patient is officially diagnosed with the following diseases:
- hay fever;
- bronchial asthma;
- allergic rhinitis, tracheitis;
- asthmatic bronchitis;
- obstructive bronchitis.
Allergy treatment
Since the cough during an attack is dry, the answer to the questions about how to treat an allergic cough in a child, and how to treat a dry allergic cough in a child and an adult, will be the same.
There are general principles for the treatment of allergic cough:
- Allergen removal.
- Taking antihistamines.
- Taking glucocorticoids.
- Removing phlegm.
- Desensitization.
- Hardware methods.
- Folk methods.
Getting rid of allergies
If an allergic cough is caused by pollen from indoor plants, you need to remove them. If an allergy to dust is established, all dust collectors must be removed: large soft toys, massive bedspreads, carpets.
Often, allergy sufferers have to give up the idea of getting a pet because they are allergic to cat or dog fur.
An allergy to the flowering of certain plants can sometimes even force a person to change their place of residence.
Enterosorbent drugs are used:
-
- Polyphepan;
- Enterosgel;
- Polysorb.
Thanks to its successful gel form, Enterosgel is convenient even for very young children.
A sudden attack of allergic cough will be facilitated by rinsing the nose and throat with a non-concentrated saline solution and accessing fresh air (ventilation).
On a note! An important element of successful allergy treatment is complete smoking cessation. In this case, both an adult with allergies and a child who is a passive smoker will benefit if the parents are addicted to this addiction.
Antihistamines and glucocorticoids
This group of substances includes several generations of drugs that reduce the level of histamine in the body and thereby reduce the manifestations of an allergic reaction. Traditional drugs Suprastin and Tavegil have pronounced side effects such as drowsiness and weakness.
New generations of antihistamines are Zyrtec, Cetrin, Claritin. When taking them, side effects are mild or absent. To treat an allergic cough in a child, Fenistil can be used - this is a modern antihistamine that is approved for use in children from the first month of life.
The use of glucocorticoid drugs can only be carried out in consultation with the attending physician, who prescribes drugs such as Ingacort, Benacort (in the form of pocket inhalers).
Removing phlegm
If you have allergies, the question may arise: how to treat a dry allergic cough? Viscous sputum in case of allergies must be removed from the respiratory tract. For this purpose, mucolytics and expectorants are used. The former thin the mucus, the latter facilitate its removal. These include the following medications:
- Bromhexine;
- Lazolvan;
- Ambroxol;
- Mukaltin.
Lazolvan (in the form of syrup) is approved for use in children over one and a half years old; children over 2 years old can take Mucaltin.
Note! Herbal products approved for use in children (for example, Prospan, containing ivy) can be used, but with caution, since the herbs themselves can cause an individual allergic reaction.
Desensitization and hardware methods
There is a theory that the introduction of small doses of an allergen into the body can reduce the manifestations of an allergic reaction over time. This method is implemented only under the supervision of a doctor in specialized clinics.
If an allergic cough is caused by many different allergens and the disease is severe, the doctor may recommend taking a course of hemosorption - blood purification using a special device to remove the allergen. For the same purpose, plasmapheresis is performed - removal of part of the plasma that contains allergens.
Folk remedies
How to treat an allergic cough with folk remedies - this question interests many, since there is not always a real opportunity to seek medical help. Among the traditional methods of treating and preventing cough due to allergies, there are the following:
- Rinsing the mucous membranes of the nose and throat with plain water or a weak solution of soda after walking in the fresh air during the flowering of seasonal allergen plants.
- Inhalation with a warm solution of soda, chamomile decoction.
- Drinking black radish juice, formed by infusing radish with honey for 8 hours.
- Ingestion of a decoction of anise and bay leaf.
Prevention
It becomes possible to transfer the disease into stable remission with properly selected treatment and the following preventive measures:
- Healthy lifestyle (quitting smoking, physical activity).
- Hypoallergenic diet (refusal of coffee, citrus fruits, red fish and other individual food allergens).
- Regular wet cleaning of living quarters.
- Air humidification.
Unfortunately, allergies are diseases that often accompany a person throughout his life, but its course can be suppressed by following the recommendations of doctors and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Source: https://antirodinka.ru/kak-sleduet-lechit-allergicheskiy-kashel
Signs of allergic cough in adults and its treatment
A cough can signal the development of various diseases.
People often confuse a cough of an allergic nature with a manifestation of an acute respiratory disease (pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis) and begin to treat it with cold medications or antibiotics.
Such therapy will not only be ineffective, but can also seriously aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of an allergic cough and also know how to deal with them. In this article we will look at this topic in detail and answer all the important questions.
Causes of allergic cough development
An allergy cough occurs in response to an element (substance) entering the body, to which the immune system responds with hyperactivation. In most cases, coughing attacks are caused by aeroallergens - substances in the air.
The following factors can cause cough due to allergies:
- pollen of weeds and medicinal herbs, trees, various flowers (garden, field, vegetable flowers, etc.);
- household allergens. This category includes household products in the form of aerosols (sprays, fresheners, powder, blush), powder and other detergents, book or house dust, tobacco smoke;
- molds;
- epidermal particles: feathers, fluff, fur or dander of pets, birds;
- vaccines and medicines;
- bee or wasp stings;
- some food products.
The mechanism of cough development due to allergies
A cough occurs when the bronchi are irritated due to allergens entering the body. A substance that acts as an allergen enters into chemical reactions with immunoglobulins - blood proteins responsible for the immune system.
During this process, histamine is released from these cells, causing the development of an allergic reaction in humans.
Once in the blood, this substance has a negative effect on the functioning of the body, causing such deviations as:
- muscle spasms of the respiratory and digestive systems;
- swelling of the vascular walls;
- adrenaline rush;
- increase in blood pressure.
It is spasms and irritation of the bronchi that provoke the development of an allergic cough.
Symptoms of an allergic cough and its differences from a cold
Despite the fact that an allergic cough is similar to a cold, it can be distinguished by a number of specific signs. Treatment can begin only after making sure of the allergic nature of its origin! A person should also try to remember what preceded the manifestation of such a condition - infection, hypothermia, or contact with an allergen.
There are 2 cardinal differences between an allergic cough and an inflammatory or bacterial one:
- color of sputum. With allergies, sputum is always clear;
- mechanism of cough development. Allergic cough in an adult at the first stage is always paroxysmal and can last from 2-3 hours to 3-4 days. Then its second stage begins, characterized by the release of a small amount of sputum of transparent color and medium viscosity.
This development of events during an allergic reaction is associated with the occurrence of spasms and severe swelling of the respiratory tract mucosa. At first, a person suffers from severe bronchospasm and cannot control coughing attacks. To prevent possible suffocation, the body relieves bronchial irritation by secreting mucus.
In addition, the distinctive symptoms of cough due to allergies are:
- it appears unexpectedly, most often at night;
- can be dry. Only after a prolonged coughing attack can a person cough up a small amount of clear mucus;
- accompanied by severe itching in the larynx and difficulty breathing;
- there is no increase in body temperature;
- a rash and dermatitis may be observed on the skin;
- the throat does not turn red, there is no discomfort when swallowing;
- there is no transition from a dry cough to a wet cough;
- most often occurs in the spring.
An allergic cough is dry and barking in nature; a person is unable to control it. This condition is accompanied by the inability to breathe normally, wheezing and whistling in the chest. And with a respiratory disease, it is still controllable, quickly turns into wet, bringing relief.
Diagnostic measures
If a dry cough due to allergies does not go away for a long time, it is worth visiting an allergist, therapist or pulmonologist. They will conduct the necessary examination and send you for laboratory testing.
To identify the irritant and cause of an allergic cough, the following types of differential diagnosis can be prescribed:
- detailed blood test;
- swab from the throat and nasal cavity;
- sputum examination;
- fluorography;
- skin tests;
- bronchoscopy;
- electrocardiogram;
- radiography;
- spirometry;
- biopsy;
- Mantoux test;
- PCR diagnostics.
Detection of eosinophil cells in an amount of 5% and an increase in the level of immunoglobulin E in the blood will indicate the development of an allergy.
What to do first?
To alleviate the condition and stop severe coughing attacks, you can take the following measures:
- if the allergen is known, it is necessary to completely avoid contact with it;
- gargle and rinse nasal passages with salt solution or water;
- take an antihistamine;
- carry out wet cleaning and remove dust from all surfaces, including upper cabinets and hard-to-reach places;
- ventilate the room;
- remove from the room all things and objects that can accumulate dust: carpets, rugs, blankets. Or you can replace them with hypoallergenic ones with padding polyester filling;
- remove pets from the premises and exclude contact with them;
- wash things only with laundry or baby soap.
Having taken such measures, it is necessary to look at the body’s reaction. If the cough does not subside, be sure to consult an allergist.
Treatment of allergic cough
Treatment of allergic cough in a hospital is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Prescribing antihistamines. This group of medications lowers histamine levels. Among them are older generation drugs, for example, Tavegil, Suprastin and Diazolin. But they cause side effects such as drowsiness and lethargy, so they are contraindicated for people driving vehicles or working in jobs that require quick reactions. In addition, they are quickly addictive and stop helping over time. Therefore, it is worth giving preference to new generation products, such as Zyrtec, Zaditen or Claritin. They differ in the duration of action and do not affect well-being. But they should be taken only after doctor's approval. You should also know that if the allergen is pollen or plant flowers, use Ketotifen.
- Use of bronchodilators. Such medications are designed to relax the muscles of the bronchi and eliminate spasms, which will greatly facilitate coughing. For example, they may prescribe Salbutamol, Beclamethasone or Eufillin. They can be bought in the form of inhalers or in tablets.
- Use of mucolytics or expectorants. Such remedies are used in cases where a cough is accompanied by difficult-to-discharge transparent sputum. They help thin the mucus in the bronchi and improve the coughing process. Bromhexine, Ambroxol and Mucaltin are considered the most effective.
- Purpose of enterosorbents. It is advisable to take them only in cases where the cough is caused by an allergen entering the body with food. Products with a sorbing effect can quickly remove toxins from the body and neutralize them, thereby cleansing the body. Such sorbents as Smecta, Polypefan, Enterosgel, Polysorb are recognized as effective.
In addition, in a hospital setting, certain procedures may be prescribed to combat a specific allergen. Eg:
- desensitization . This procedure is similar to vaccination. A small dose of the allergen is injected under the person's skin. The dosage of the administered substance is gradually increased, while reducing the time intervals between injections. This will allow the body to get used to the allergen, reducing its sensitivity. But such treatment is lengthy and takes time. In this case, the allergen must be precisely known. For example, it could be pet fur, plant pollen, or insect bites;
- blood purification (hemosorption, immunosorption, plasmapheresis, lymphocytopheresis) . Such methods are used only in the most severe cases, when it is necessary to cleanse the body of antibodies and allergens. With immunosorption and hemosorption, the blood is purified from harmful elements by passing it through absorbers (special sorbents). With lymphocytopheresis and plasmapheresis, the blood is divided into parts and treated with cleansing substances.
Inhalations
Dry, barking cough and its accompanying symptoms in adults are also treated with the help of a nebulizer - a device designed for inhalation for bronchitis, tracheitis, colds and pharyngitis. It is filled with saline solution or mineral water. The device turns all liquid into steam, which helps clear the airways of irritants (allergens) and moisturizes their mucous membranes.
Mineral water can be replaced with special solutions:
- "Pulmicort";
- "Berodual";
- "Eufillin";
- "Ventolin";
- "Berotek".
Such drugs help expand the lumen of the bronchi, thereby facilitating breathing and reducing spasms. Such solutions for inhalation must be used and diluted strictly according to the instructions or prescription of a doctor.
Instead of pharmaceutical solutions for inhalation, you can also use herbal tinctures prepared from plants such as:
- Datura leaves;
- sage;
- rye;
- chamomile;
- thyme.
Traditional methods of treatment
Allergic cough in adults can be treated using proven traditional medicine recipes. Moreover, they can be combined with medications.
The following folk remedies will help relieve coughing attacks and relieve spasms:
- mustard plasters and camphor oil. You need to rub the breasts with oil, then apply mustard plasters on top, after moistening them with warm water. After 15 minutes, the mustard plasters are removed;
- honey, laurel leaves and soda. Boil 3 bay leaves for 5 minutes in half a liter of water. Add about 1 gram of baking soda. Let cool. Place natural honey (20 grams) in a slightly warm solution. Drink a quarter glass when a coughing attack appears;
- chamomile, lemon and black tea. Chamomile and tea are brewed in equal parts, lemon is added. It is preferable to keep the finished drink in a thermos. Drink warm, slowly, in small sips;
- celery. Freshly squeezed plant juice is drunk 30 drops before meals;
- ginger root. It should be washed thoroughly and finely chopped. It is then brewed in a teapot like tea. Drink 100 ml up to 3 times a day.
A cough of an allergic nature is very difficult: it becomes difficult to breathe, spasms and wheezing appear. It is important to be able to distinguish it from a cold and correctly help a person.
If your cough is severe or prolonged, be sure to consult an allergist. He will select the necessary treatment regimen and help identify the allergen.
Remember, only properly selected therapy will help defeat allergic cough!
Source: https://allergiya03.com/simptomy/allergicheskiy-kashel-u-vzroslyh.html
Allergic cough: symptoms and treatment (How and what to treat in adults)
Cough is one of the severe pathologies that can be experienced by people of any age. Allergic cough, the symptoms and treatment of which are outlined below, requires immediate treatment, since in the absence of therapy the pathological conditions progress.
Causes of allergic cough
The pathological process that causes coughing is based on an inadequate reaction of the body, which is hyperreactive in nature. Upon contact with an irritant, the body experiences a negative effect, which is expressed in the reaction of the immune system. This subsequently manifests itself in various clinical manifestations.
Cough with allergies symptoms
The development of an allergic cough can take several forms. Depending on the type of reactivity of the immune system, it manifests itself at lightning speed or with a gradual increase in clinical manifestations.
With a rapid increase in clinical symptoms associated with an immediate type reaction, a significant deterioration of the condition occurs. The patient feels severe suffocation, lack of air, and swelling in the upper respiratory tract. There is a noticeable formation of a large amount of mucus in the bronchial secretions, and the development of shortness of breath.
The cough is dry, sputum is difficult to separate, and is sometimes also called wheezing.
The course is of a paroxysmal type. With a delayed type reaction, the patient can rarely name the exact conditions of its occurrence.
A dry or wet hacking cough appears, which may subside or, conversely, intensify depending on the situation.
The development of cough is accompanied by symptoms characterizing an allergic reaction in the form of lacrimation, rhinitis with the appearance of large quantities of nasal discharge, as well as sneezing.
Attention! An allergic cough occurs without the development of sore throat, sore throat, or clinical manifestations of a cold or inflammatory reaction.
Diagnosis of allergic cough
Diagnostic behavior and diagnosis of allergic cough involves conducting various laboratory and instrumental studies that make it possible to exclude other pathologies and determine the severity of the existing one.
Diagnostic methods include:
- Initially, to make a diagnosis of an allergic cough, the doctor needs to talk with the patient, clarify the cause of the clinical manifestations that the patient can note, as well as the degree of progression of the clinical manifestations.
- The doctor conducts an external examination to assess the condition of the mucous membrane, for an inflammatory reaction, determine the size of the tonsils, as well as examine the skin, nasal mucosa and eyes.
Next, we proceed to laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods, which include:
- Determination of a general blood test. In contrast to cough associated with the inflammatory process, an increase in the eosinophilic level is observed.
- A blood test to determine immunoglobulin for certain types of allergen. In this case, the analysis can be done for the most likely factors that the patient suggests, or a general analysis for all possible allergens. This diagnostic method turns out to be indispensable for further treatment, because it is the identification of the allergen that allows you to begin therapy by limiting contact with it.
- Carrying out skin tests. Conducting skin tests for the most likely allergens with subsequent assessment of the body’s condition. To do this, special liquids that contain antigens are applied to the skin using a scarifier.
- X-ray of the lungs. This is an obligatory component of instrumental diagnostics, which is used to exclude complications and differential diagnosis with inflammatory processes.
- Bronchoscopy with biopsy. This is an invasive method that allows you to accurately determine the possible nature of the inflammatory reaction.
- Assessment of the functional capabilities of lung tissue using spirometry and peak flowmetry. In bronchial asthma, which is the cause of allergic cough, certain changes are detected.
Acute laryngitis and its treatment
Main types of allergens
Among the triggering factors that trigger an immunological reaction are:
- protein particles that are contained in pollen of plants, as well as flowers, trees, etc.;
- protein found in food. These include food components such as dairy products, fish, etc.;
- chemical compounds contained in household chemicals, personal hygiene products, etc.;
- decorative cosmetics;
- the smallest particles contained in the air when working in hazardous industries;
- medications that a person has recently started using or is undergoing short-term therapy;
- clothing and interior items. These include down pillows, old furniture, etc.;
- pet hair.
Therefore, we can conclude that any substance in the environment can be the cause.
How to treat allergic cough in adults
People faced with a similar problem are interested in the question of how to treat cough with allergies. There is a small selection of drugs that help cope with this pathology.
Treatment with herbal remedies
It is recommended to use herbal preparations in combination with medications. Dry allergic cough can be eliminated with solutions that contain mineral water and milk, as well as celery in the form of juice or ginger infusions.
In cases where the cough begins to be accompanied by sputum, solutions of soda, decoctions of potatoes and elecampane are effective. Treatment should begin with small portions, this will help prevent the development of severe complications.
If a wet allergic cough develops, it is recommended to drink more fluids. It is with it that toxic products and allergens will be removed. The following are used as decoctions:
- A decoction of elecampane roots. To do this, the roots of the plant are filled with cool water, the mixture is boiled in a water bath for 10 minutes. The decoction is taken in the amount of 1 tablespoon three times a day.
- Elderberry and linden tea. To do this, dry plant mixtures are poured with hot water and boiled for 5 minutes, after it has cooled, it is filtered and drunk three times a day in a volume of 100 ml.
- Plantain decoction. The leaves of the dry plant are filled with water and boiled, after which it should be strained and taken 50 ml.
Before using traditional methods, you should make sure that allergies will not develop to the contents of the herbal preparation. To do this, you should consult a specialist.
Instructions for use of licorice root syrup
Antihistamines and glucocorticoids
The use of antiallergic drugs is necessary for any form of allergic cough. In the case of an acute paroxysmal cough, it is necessary to promptly take medications that quickly relieve symptoms within a short time.
Important! In order to provide primary care, rinsing the nasal passages and oral cavity with soda solution is used. At this stage, it is effective to use antihistamines that can relieve swelling and increased symptoms, especially in the form of a spray, to speed up the effects.
Among the main methods of treatment for allergic cough are prescribed:
- group of antihistamines. Allergic cough tablets, acting at the receptor level, help reduce the production of histamine compounds. These include drugs from the Diazolin, Tavegil, Suprastin or Cetrin group. It must be remembered that drugs can not only have a positive effect, but also lead to side effects. Among the most common manifestations are the development of drowsiness and lethargy, especially in a child. It is for this reason that it is forbidden to use a car or work in enterprises that require concentration during treatment with antihistamines;
- glucocorticoids. Drugs in this group help suppress the reaction of the immune system, inhibiting the allergic reaction. There is a decrease in the body's sensitivity to antigens coming from outside. Selection of the dosage of the drug requires careful diagnosis of the pathology, as well as monitoring of the condition. Their regular use is required against the background of moderate or severe allergic cough.
Differences between an allergic cough and a cold
In many ways, identifying the differences between colds and allergic coughs facilitates the specialist’s task in diagnosing and selecting treatment methods. To do this, it is necessary to highlight the main differences between these types of diseases. Among which:
- the presence of accompanying characteristic symptoms. In inflammatory diseases that are accompanied by a cough, one may note the presence of a sore throat, increased body temperature, etc. With an allergic cough, such symptoms will be absent;
- the presence of accompanying symptoms characteristic of allergic pathologies. Among them: the presence of lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, inflammation of the conjunctiva, runny nose, etc.;
- development of spontaneous onset of allergic manifestations. During an infectious process, symptoms increase gradually; coughing in this case will be a complication;
- a longer, protracted course of an allergic cough, in contrast to the inflammatory process;
- for allergic cough while taking mucolytics, no positive effect is observed.
Folk remedies
Such methods can significantly improve the patient’s condition, as well as get rid of the increase in symptoms and the occurrence of severe complications.
Among the effective methods, characterized by a natural composition, a low percentage of side effects and complications, there are various kinds of decoctions and tinctures.
They help reduce susceptibility to allergic components, have a calming effect, and are also approved for use by children.
Treatment should be a course of treatment; the positive effect from herbal components is observed a little later.
Instructions for use of Gerbion syrup for dry cough
Among the main folk recipes are:
- Making onion milk. To do this, chop one fresh onion, which is placed in a glass of boiling milk. The resulting mixture is boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. After the solution has cooled, it should be filtered and consumed 2 times.
- Honey syrup. To do this, 500 g of onions are peeled, cut into small pieces and poured with one liter of clean water. Another 50 g of honey is added to the resulting mixture and brought to a boil. Use the solution three times a day in the amount of one tablespoon.
- Lemon water. To prepare lemon water, you need to cut one lemon, to which add a glass of honey and a glass of clean water. The mixture is heated, but not brought to a boil. The resulting composition is consumed in the amount of one tablespoon at the first manifestations of cough.
- Chamomile and lemon tea. To prepare such tea, you need to mix black tea and chamomile in equal proportions. It must be brewed in hot water or infused in a thermos. It is recommended to add a slice of lemon during use.
Prevention
In order to avoid the development of an allergic cough, it is necessary to follow measures aimed at preventing this process. These will include:
- Avoiding contact with potential allergens. To do this, it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure to the street during active flowering of plants. Follow dietary measures excluding foods that often cause allergies. In the living area, regularly carry out wet cleaning to remove dust and dirt.
- Ventilate rooms regularly. Limit taking medications.
- In cases where patients constantly experience an allergic cough, and cannot exclude exposure to an allergen, then it is necessary to carry out preventive courses of antihistamines and desensitizing drugs that will help prevent the development of an allergic cough in clinical manifestations.
- When the pathological process has already developed, an urgent request for help from a specialist is required in order to prevent complications and irreversible changes.
The use of any medication, as well as traditional methods, should be carried out under the strict supervision of specialists. This is due to the fact that their use can cause a deterioration in well-being within a short time with a possible threat to life.
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Source: https://lor-orvi.ru/simptomy/kashel/allergicheskij-kashel/
Symptoms and treatment of allergic cough in adults
An allergic cough is a reaction of the immune system to an irritant that enters the nasopharynx from the external environment. With the help of paroxysmal contractions of the intestines and bronchi, the body tries to clear the airways of allergens.
How symptoms appear
Along with the air flow, aeroallergens, which are absolutely harmless to healthy people, enter the nasopharynx of an adult. In high concentrations, they can only cause a sore nose. But the immune system of allergy sufferers reacts to irritants with hyperactivation.
Upon contact with the mucous membrane, the irritant binds to immunoglobulin. This interaction leads to the release of histamine, a substance involved in an immediate allergic reaction. Physiological processes are launched that lead to bronchospasms, the release of tears, and the accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the nasopharynx.
Swelling of the mucous membrane narrows the bronchial lumen. Difficulty breathing and a sore throat lead to an allergic cough. But such a reaction is not able to cleanse the body of the irritant. As a result, the allergy sufferer's condition worsens. Without medical care, his body can develop dangerous complications - Quincke's edema, bronchospasm, laryngospasm.
Causes of chest spasms
Allergic cough in adults appears after allergens enter the nasopharynx. It is especially often diagnosed in the spring, during the flowering of trees, shrubs, plants: alder, birch, jasmine, juniper, amaranth, goldenrod, fragrant spikelet.
A common cause of dry cough is the entry of household allergens into the nasopharynx. These include dust, fluff, and pet hair particles.
You can get sick after inhaling components of cosmetics, household chemicals, mold, spices and seasonings.
There are a number of professions whose workers are at risk of developing an allergic cough:
- landscape designers (plant pollen, including exotic ones);
- hairdressers (smallest particles of hair, paint components);
- cleaners (dust, mold, household chemical components);
- office workers (computer screens attract dust);
- builders (components of construction and repair materials);
- drivers (dust, pollen, exhaust fumes);
- cooks, waiters (spices and seasonings).
Smokers are also at risk. Even in the absence of a reaction to the components of tobacco smoke, smoking increases the symptoms of allergic cough and slows down the treatment of the disease.
How to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold
The question of how to recognize the nature of the disease and distinguish allergies from colds interests all sick people. To do this, you need to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- unexpected coughing attacks appear against the background of a satisfactory state of health;
- the patient has difficulty breathing deeply;
- coughing attacks worsen in the evening and at night;
- a rash, redness, peeling appears on the face and body;
- dry cough accompanied by slight discharge of clear mucus;
- mucolytic drugs do not provide relief;
- dry cough does not develop into an expectorant wet form.
- there are no signs of intoxication - weakness, fever, muscle pain.
Allergic cough often occurs in people whose parents and relatives also suffer from this form of immune hypersensitivity (genetic predisposition).
Diagnosis of allergies
To identify the allergen and prescribe treatment, the doctor conducts an examination and interviews the patient about his profession, pets, and lifestyle. Next, he prescribes one or more diagnostic procedures from this list:
- blood chemistry;
- skin allergy tests;
- smear of the oral mucosa;
- sputum examination;
- radiography;
- PCR diagnostics.
After excluding infectious and viral diseases, the doctor recommends comprehensive treatment of allergic cough.
First aid for cough
If an allergic reaction occurs in the form of a dry cough, do not come into contact with the irritant substance. After this, gargle and rinse your nasal passages with warm saline solution. If a food product caused an immune reaction, take a sorbent.
Next, do a general cleaning of the apartment. Remove any items that collect dust (carpets, heavy curtains, bedspreads, soft toys). Give pets to relatives. Change your route to work to avoid flowering trees and flower beds.
Conservative treatment methods
To treat allergic cough, medications of various effects are prescribed.
Antihistamines for allergic cough
This group of medications reduces the level of histamines in the body. As a result, the intensity of the cough decreases until the attacks completely stop.
First generation medications (Diphenhydramine, Fenkarol, Claridol) effectively fight allergies, but often cause side effects.
The new generation of antihistamines (Erius, Xyzal, Fexofenadine) is considered effective and safe.
Bronchodilators
Such drugs (Salbutamol, Eufillin, Beclomethasone) relieve spasms and relax the muscle tone of the bronchi. As a result, the clearance increases and breathing becomes easier.
Medicines are produced in the form of tablets, syrups, liquid for injection, and aerosols. The remedies effectively eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause of allergic cough.
Therefore, they are prescribed as an auxiliary treatment method.
Absorbents
If allergens enter the digestive tract and from there migrate through the blood into the bronchi, absorbents are prescribed. Such drugs (Smecta, Polysorb, Enterosgel) have a porous structure. They absorb toxins and then remove them from the body with feces. The drugs are ineffective against irritation of the respiratory tract by aeroallergens.
Treatment of allergic cough by inhalation
Adults suffering from allergic cough can purchase a nebulizer - a device for home inhalation. It is a compressor that splits the medicinal solution into ultra-small particles and delivers it with a powerful stream into the breathing mask.
You can fill the device’s reservoir with the following medications:
- Eufillin;
- Berodual;
- Pulmicort.
The use of decoctions of medicinal herbs is allowed: chamomile, sage, thyme. Before using traditional medicine, you must make sure that you are not allergic to the components of decoctions and infusions.
Preventive measures
Adults with a hypersensitive immune system should provide themselves with a hypoallergenic lifestyle. This is the name for the organization of everyday life in which a person does not come into contact with irritants.
To do this, you need to remove all carpets, thick curtains and bedspreads from the apartment. Get rid of furniture and decorative items made from cheap toxic materials. Do wet cleaning every day, wipe off dust, and prevent mold from appearing in the bathroom.
People with allergies should not have pets or grow certain types of indoor plants (geranium, kalanchoe, ferns). They are prohibited from using any air fresheners. And as a perfume, only wax or oil-based perfumes are allowed to be applied to the body.
Source: https://stop-kashel.ru/allergicheskii-kashel-simptomy-i-lechenie/
How to cure an allergic cough in an adult
An allergic cough is a complex reaction of the body to an irritant. Self-healing will not bring results - antitussives and expectorants will not help, but they can intensify allergic manifestations. That’s why doctors advise curing the disease personally. What to do if you are tormented by allergies, how to cure the disease, you will learn from this article for us.
No folk remedies, “grandmother’s ointments” and “grandfather’s tinctures” will help if you are suffering from an allergic cough. This option is a striking example of the impossibility of getting rid of a scourge without qualified medical assistance.
Treatment with medications for allergic cough
With an allergic cough, the body responds to the penetration of an allergen that is not associated with a virus or cold.
Such a cough complicates a person’s life for weeks and even months, gradually worsening the condition. If you do not respond to the occurrence of a cough by eliminating the primary allergy first, you can cause severe, and in some cases, irreparable harm to your health.
How a cough develops: body reactions
The main reaction is an increase in sensitivity to allergens that have entered the body. The human immune system, when faced with foreign compounds, produces histamine, the main mediator of allergies.
As a result, the following is observed in the allergic person’s body:
- severe itching caused by irritation of the nerve areas of the skin;
- sore throat, sore nose - nasty burning sensation (irritation of the mucous membrane);
- reflex cough associated with irritation of the bronchial mucosa.
The smooth muscles of the bronchial walls under the influence of spasms become a prerequisite for the occurrence of shortness of breath - an invariable companion of an allergic cough. A sharp decrease in the tone of arterial walls leads to a decrease in systemic blood pressure.
Are there accurate signs that help find the answer to the question of how to recognize a cough due to allergies? There are such signs, the main thing is to pay attention to them before the cough turns into a languid form.
Symptoms of an allergic cough: how not to miss it?
We are talking about cough as the main symptom of an allergy, therefore below are the signs of an allergic cough by which it can be diagnosed:
- duration (dry cough drags on for months);
- absence of accompanying body reactions characteristic of reactions to a virus or colds;
- clear sputum;
- paroxysmal aggravation during contact with an allergen;
- combination with secondary manifestations of allergies - rhinitis, conjunctivitis, rashes on areas of the skin with swelling.
- Note!
- An allergic cough occurs at one moment when a person feels healthy and is often not accompanied by additional reactions of the body.
- Features of cough: when does an allergy become fatal?
In some situations, a dry or wet allergic cough manifests itself in different ways. If for one allergy sufferer attacks occur at one moment and are not accompanied by secondary reactions to the irritant, then for another it all begins with a runny nose.
One way or another, but the attack makes itself felt at the critical moment of contact of the throat mucosa with the irritant. Using this feature, it is easier and faster to distinguish an allergic cough from a cold.
Important! The throat is hypersensitive, so a reaction to even a small amount of dust or nicotine is inevitable.
Short-term coughing is familiar to anyone who has been in a room with dry air.
Even this simple example once again proves that the body reacts to changes, drawing attention to itself with the first symptoms of an allergic cough, showing the inability to stay in such conditions.
By counteracting foreign microelements, the bronchi actively work, provoking coughing. Most often, the feelings do not cause discomfort, but only if the cough is not accompanied by swelling - the main provocateur of the appearance of laryngeal stenosis.
What is stenosis?
Source: https://allergich.com/sovety/kak-vilechit-allergicheskiy-kashel-u-vzroslogo.html