Cough is an unpleasant symptom that can darken the mood of both adults and children. It interferes with sleep, prevents you from eating normally and often leads to a deterioration in your overall health due to excessive tension in the muscles of the chest and neck.
This is what makes patients wonder - which doctor treats cough? It is very difficult for non-specialists to give a final answer to this question, since medicine knows several varieties of this symptom, depending on its origin and nature.
Each of them requires a special approach, which can only be found by a specialist in a narrow field of medicine. Depending
Doctor No. 1 - therapist or pediatrician
The first visit to a doctor regarding breathing problems should be preceded by independent consideration of this symptom. First you need to answer a few questions:
- At what time does the cough occur - in the morning after waking up, before bed, at night or during the day?
- What exactly provokes it - hypothermia or being in a stuffy room, dust or certain odors?
- What character does it have - paroxysmal or mild coughing, wet or dry?
- During an attack, do you experience a feeling of shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain and other additional symptoms? Or perhaps it occurs after an attack of pain behind the sternum?
- Does your body temperature rise?
This information will help the doctor determine the nature of the cough and find effective means to combat it.
In addition to the physiological cough, which most people do not pay attention to, there are several varieties of this symptom.
It can be allergic, reactive (occurs in response to foreign objects, acids and alkalis, vapors entering the respiratory tract) or infectious (including those caused by tuberculosis).
An attack can be caused by bronchospasm, heart pathology or secondary lung damage.
Important! The possibility of lung cancer should not be overlooked. This disease often begins with a slight cough.
The first option regarding which doctor is consulted for cough in adults is a general practitioner or a family doctor (general practitioner). It is he who should present the complaints and explain how the cough appears and what symptoms it is accompanied by.
If such a symptom is observed in a child, you should contact a pediatrician. The attending physician will prescribe a comprehensive diagnosis and, based on its results, will decide which doctor the patient should see to eliminate the causes of breathing difficulties.
If the cough is a consequence of a cold
For a cold cough, as well as for upper respiratory tract infections, the disease will be treated by an ENT doctor. The scope of this specialist's activities includes:
It is recommended to visit an otolaryngologist if an attack is accompanied by sore throat, sore throat, and sputum production. It can happen at any time of the day. Diseases of the ENT organs are almost always accompanied by an increase in temperature. Along with this, the patient may experience a runny nose, ear pain, headaches and joint pain.
The doctor prescribes medications for oral administration, as well as topical medications - sprays and drops. If a recently treated cough worsens, immunostimulants, antiviral or antibacterial agents, and a course of physical therapy may be required.
Who to go to for an allergic cough
Both adults and children suffer equally from allergic lesions of the respiratory tract. In addition to a dry hacking cough, they experience swelling of the nasal mucosa, most patients actively produce tears, and attacks begin in the evening or at night. In this way, the body tries to get rid of irritants. The temperature does not rise with allergies.
An allergist treats such attacks. Before prescribing full-fledged therapy, he selects additional diagnostics to identify allergens to which the patient has a strong reaction.
It is recommended to treat coughs of allergic origin with antihistamines.
Children are prescribed predominantly topical medications in the form of drops, while adults are treated with oral medications.
This is interesting! In especially severe cases, allergy sufferers are prescribed high-tech procedures for purifying the blood from irritants - ILBI (intravenous laser blood purification) or UVOC (ultraviolet blood purification).
Doctor who treats asthma
Asthmatic cough affects a small proportion of patients who come to see a therapist or pediatrician.
Their attacks are accompanied by an acute lack of air - their lips turn blue, their eyes roll back, and at the end of coughing whistling noises are heard in the chest.
Asthma can be caused by household dust, perfumes, chemical fumes, lack of vitamins and microelements, as well as an autoimmune reaction. Attacks most often occur at night or in the morning.
Only a pulmonologist can treat asthma. To begin with, he prescribes a set of additional studies:
- spirometry;
- breath tests;
- sputum analysis for eosinophils, Courshman spirals and Charcot-Leyden crystals;
- allergy tests;
Treatment prescribed by a pulmonologist usually consists of medications, lifestyle adjustments, diet, and general strengthening of the body.
Special topic - cardiac cough
Particularly difficult for patients is the question of which doctors to contact if they have a cough that occurs due to heart disease. Experts say that only a cardiologist can help cope with this unpleasant problem.
Cardiac cough differs from others in the complete absence of sputum. Only during prolonged attacks may the patient experience scanty discharge mixed with blood. In general, it resembles asthmatic and allergic cough, as it worsens at night.
Important point! The cardiac cough intensifies when the patient tries to lie down. This does not happen with lung diseases.
Treatment of this type of cough is possible only after eliminating the underlying problem. Sometimes patients have to take heart medications for the rest of their lives, and in some cases they are recommended for surgical treatment.
A cough does not always indicate serious health problems. But this is not a reason to ignore it.
Patients who do not immediately seek medical attention regarding breathing problems are at risk of experiencing life-threatening complications. Therefore, you should not be afraid that the doctor will call you a suspicious person or an alarmist.
It is better to play it safe and check the condition of the bronchopulmonary system once again than to treat a complex disease for the rest of your life.
The doctor will talk about traditional methods of treating cough in the video:
source
Which doctor treats cough
Which doctor should I contact if I have a cough?
You have a cough, which doctor should you contact?
Which doctor treats allergic cough?
Cardiac cough, which doctor treats it?
If such a symptom is caused by heart disease, the patient is referred to a cardiologist.
In this case, studies such as a cardiogram, blood test collection, and ultrasound of the heart help to identify the cause of this unpleasant symptom.
The cardiac reflex act is similar in characteristics to an allergic one, since it has the same paroxysmal nature and occurs most often at night.
What kind of cough requires a visit to an ENT doctor?
Often, such a sign can be a symptom of ENT diseases. We are talking about laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, as well as pathologies of the middle ear.
In this case, the otolaryngologist is involved in diagnosis and treatment.
It is this doctor who conducts all the necessary studies and examinations and prescribes the right medications that will help not only eliminate the symptom that is tormenting you, but also cure the cause of its occurrence.
Which doctor treats cough due to pneumonia and bronchial asthma?
If acute respiratory diseases, colds and infections such as flu require a visit to a general practitioner, then pneumonia, with the resulting serious cough, as well as asthma attacks, must be accompanied by the supervision of a pulmonologist. This doctor treats serious diseases associated with respiratory pathologies. He also diagnoses the presence of tumors of the bronchi, lungs and larynx.
Protracted cough in an adult: how to treat, main causes and symptoms
- The attending physician will tell you how to treat a persistent cough in an adult after a full diagnostic examination and identification of the causes.
- The main symptoms of a prolonged cough include coughing throughout the day and sudden coughing attacks with the discharge of viscous sputum.
- Causes:
- infectious specific inflammation (rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, pleurisy);
- nonspecific inflammation (chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis);
- allergies (hay fever, bronchial asthma, alveolitis);
- occupational hazards (dust, cotton wool, asbestos, talc and others);
- smoking (smoker's bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema);
- pathology of the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia, extrasystole, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, cor pulmonale);
- diseases of the digestive system (diaphragmatic hernia, tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroesophageal reflux disease);
- injuries (chemical, thermal, foreign objects of the respiratory tract and esophagus);
- neoplasms (cysts, polyps, tumors, metastases).
Types of cough are divided into dry and wet.
According to duration they are distinguished:
- up to two weeks (acute);
- from 2 to 4 weeks (protracted);
- from 4 to 8 weeks (subacute);
- more than two months (chronic).
In order to understand how to treat a persistent cough in an adult, a diagnosis is carried out, which begins with an examination by a pediatrician or therapist, rhinoscopy and auscultation of the lungs.
The diagnosis is made after the first visit; a persistent cough develops after a cold and is the first symptom of chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract, for example, bronchitis.
A chronic wet cough indicates constant pathological inflammation of the bronchi or lungs, and worsens in a supine position. Sputum culture identifies the causative agent of the cold and allows you to start taking antibiotics in time for correct treatment. If you are faced with a disease such as a persistent cough, your doctor will help you determine how to treat it.
Most often, treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the cough, restoring the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract to prevent coughing.
Methods of drug therapy, warming physiotherapy and folk remedies (onion, potato decoctions) are used.
It is advisable to treat cough in children according to the recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky, following the medication regimen.
Cough prevention has several directions. Prevention of seasonal cough during acute respiratory viral infections and respiratory infections is aimed at limiting contacts during the epidemic, regularly taking immunoprophylactic drugs, and performing routine vaccinations according to the vaccination calendar.
The Mantoux test makes it possible to identify tuberculosis infection in the early stages and begin early specific therapy, which significantly reduces the risk of exacerbations. Prevention of smoker's cough and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is complete cessation of smoking.
With prolonged smoking of cigarettes, cigarettes or cigars, irreversible sclerotic processes occur in the bronchi, reducing the elasticity of the tissue. The harmful effects of tar and nicotine with a long history of smoking negatively affect lung tissue, stimulate the production of viscous yellow sputum, and are also one of the leading causes of lung cancer.
Why an adult’s cough does not go away: general recommendations for long-term cough and basic principles of treatment
Prolonged cough requires early initiation of specific treatment after undergoing a wide diagnostic examination to determine the exact cause.
Blood tests, sputum culture, as well as instrumental and functional research methods allow us to differentiate allergic and infectious diseases, foreign bodies of the upper respiratory tract and esophagus.
Drug therapy includes specific antiviral or antibacterial treatment after sputum culture while taking expectorants and sputum-thinning drugs. The appropriateness of therapy is determined by the severity of the inflammatory process based on test results; in severe cases, hospital treatment is required.
The question of why an adult’s cough does not go away requires preventive measures aimed at:
- to give up smoking;
- general strengthening procedures;
- increasing the immune properties of the body;
- allergen removal;
- frequent wet cleaning.
In case of allergic bronchitis or asthma, bronchodilator drugs in the form of inhalers help restore the lumen of the airways. They are used for prolonged productive cough, as well as for exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases. Sometimes people are faced with the problem of why an adult’s cough does not go away when treated with medications.
In such situations, folk remedies are recommended that have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on acute viral or bacterial damage to the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, reducing the production of sputum and mucus. Certain herbal infusions, for example, oak bark, affect the intensity of the inflammatory process, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes at the site of infection.
Warming procedures, such as compresses, heating and inhalations, are aimed at increasing the outflow of mucus, cleansing the upper and lower respiratory tract, and relieving inflammation of the mucous membrane. Inhalation of active substances and essential oils has a protective effect on the bronchi, restoring the mucous membrane and expectorant effect, and sputum production.
Dry cough after ARVI: causes, methods of treating dry and wet cough
Source: https://lkray-promo.ru/kashel/k-kakomu-vrachu-obraschatsya-pri-silnom-kashle-u-vzroslyh/
Cough diagnosis: how to recognize a “bad” cough and when it should not be ignored
We often hear the expression “bad cough.” It can refer not only to dry cough, but also to other types that indicate certain problems in the body. We'll tell you how to distinguish the type of cough and when you need to be wary and urgently visit a doctor.
Most often, cough accompanies viral diseases: influenza, colds, ARVI. With proper home treatment and the absence of other painful symptoms, it goes away on its own within a week or two. The most common and common types are dry and wet coughs, followed by those caused by completely different problems.
Dry cough
How to determine. It mainly occurs at the very beginning of the disease and, if left untreated, can develop into a more serious stage because the infection goes deeper into the respiratory tract. This cough is paroxysmal in nature. It starts abruptly and ends abruptly, reminiscent of barking. There is a burning sensation, irritation, and the presence of a foreign body in the throat. Often appears at night.
How to treat. With a dry cough, the main thing is to reduce the cough reflex and thin the sputum. In addition to special medications, inhalations are very useful, which will soften the mucous membrane and cause phlegm to come out. It is also recommended to drink more warm liquids, tea or milk with honey are especially good.
Wet cough
How to determine. A dry cough develops into this type if treated correctly. A wet cough is also called productive because it brings relief and the result of the cough reflex is visible.
This cough is accompanied by a runny nose and a feeling as if something is stuck in the throat. It may appear on its own, without a dry cough stage. In this case, it lasts a very long time and often leads to severe inflammation of the nasopharynx.
How to treat. If the irritation is caused by sinusitis, a disease associated with acute inflammation of the nasopharynx, antibiotics may help. In cases of colds, expectorants.
You can also relieve the condition with a salt solution. Drip it into your nose 3-4 times a day, remembering to turn your head.
This way the solution will reach its destination - into the nasal sinuses, and if you tilt your head back - it will flow straight into the stomach.
"Acid" cough
How to determine. A loud, hoarse cough accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth. Basically, it appears after late or night meals: if you eat and go to bed, acid from the stomach penetrates the esophagus, rises to the throat and irritates the mucous membrane. This cough may be a sign that something is wrong with your stomach.
The reflux of acid into the esophagus is called acid (or gastroesophageal) reflux. According to statistics, about 10% of people of different ages encounter it.
Reflux is associated with relaxation of the muscle ring that closes the esophagus at the junction with the stomach. During normal operation, it opens only “for entry” - that is, when you eat.
In case of acid reflux, it does not work and releases the contents of the stomach back.
How to treat. It is necessary to reduce the acidity of the stomach. This can be achieved by taking special medications or diet. People suffering from heartburn should avoid large portions, fatty foods and late dinners, and be careful with coffee. Particularly severe cases of reflux may require surgery.
Smoker's cough
How to determine. This is a frequent, causeless cough, accompanied by shortness of breath and sometimes blood. It may also be accompanied by chest pain when breathing, shoulder pain and weight loss. This type of cough usually indicates to doctors that there is an infection in the lungs. Often found in long-term smokers.
How to treat. Follow your doctor's recommendations; hospitalization may be required. Such infections are treated with antibiotics and procedures.
Townspeople cough
How to determine. Persistent but infrequent cough. Accompanied by a small amount of sputum. Typically more intense in the morning. Other signs include whistling and a feeling of tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing (especially when sitting). It intensifies during the cold seasons - winter and autumn.
It may be a type of bronchitis or emphysema. The common name for these diseases is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. They usually affect people over 40 who live in large cities with poor ecology. Some cases of COPD are also associated with smoking, and up to 10% of patients inherit COPD.
How to treat. It is impossible to completely get rid of this type of cough. But you can slow it down: don’t smoke and protect yourself from passive smoking. Exercise as much as possible or learn to play wind instruments to increase your lung capacity. Certain medications, physiotherapy, heating, saunas and steam baths also help to expand the airways.
Asthmatic cough
How to determine. Loud cough with wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Worsens at night when you are lying down - phlegm accumulates faster in the respiratory tract. May be caused by asthma.
About 10% of those suffering from this disease do not even suspect that they are sick. It seems to us that an asthmatic is constantly suffocating and immediately uses a special balloon. This is not always the case.
Symptoms may include coughing and difficulty breathing, which can be caused by any, even minor irritant - dust, strong odor, pollen, and so on.
Contact with irritants causes the muscles lining the airways to contract, restricting air flow, causing inflammation and sometimes swelling.
How to treat. Treatment of asthma is usually symptomatic. That is, when you have difficulty breathing, a special steroid spray can help you, which relaxes the walls of the airways and makes breathing easier.
Chronic cough
How to determine. Dry, very strong, but painless. Occurs rarely, but can last up to 10 minutes. Its duration can be measured not only in months, but also in years.
Up to 15% of cases of chronic cough do not even have any obvious cause. They are not caused by any disease, but by increased sensitivity of the respiratory organs themselves.
Any speck of dust that gets into the throat can cause a prolonged cough.
How to treat. It is impossible to completely get rid of increased sensitivity. Regular throat tablets with menthol will help you forget about your cough for a while. Only a doctor can prescribe specialized medications for you.
When a cough indicates serious and dangerous illnesses
Britain's Public Health Service has warned that up to 80,000 Britons could have lung cancer without knowing it. Doctors have announced four symptoms that you should not ignore and immediately go to a specialist.
- The cough lasts more than three weeks.
- Blood or mucus is released along with sputum.
- When coughing, the shoulder or area under the shoulder blade hurts.
- You feel short of breath.
Prepared using materials: tvojlor.com, aif.ru, segodnya.ua
Source: https://mag.103.by/novosti-kompanii/46993-diagnostika-kashlya-kak-raspoznaty-plohoj-kashely-i-kogda-jego-nelyzya-ignorirovaty/
Cough
Cough is a reflex reaction of the body to irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
The body tries to clear the airways with the help of forced (sharp, intensified) exhalation, which has a characteristic sound. Thus, coughing is a protective reaction of the body. And at the same time, it is a symptom of many diseases.
The urge to cough means that free breathing is impaired for some reason, for example, due to the development of inflammation.
Cough comes in different forms. The way we cough can help determine the cause of the cough and diagnose the disease that caused it. It is advisable to pay attention to the main characteristics of a cough in order to tell your doctor about them.
How long does the cough last?
To assess the clinical development of the disease, it is important to determine the nature of the cough. It can be acute, protracted and chronic. A cough is considered acute if it has been present for less than three weeks.
Such a cough, as a rule, accompanies the development of acute respiratory diseases and serves to clear the airways of phlegm. Acute cough is usually persistent; that is, while a person is sick, he coughs, and a decrease in the severity of attacks and the cessation of coughing indicates recovery.
If the cough returns again after some time, then we are talking about a lingering cough. A cough that lasts from 3 weeks to 3 months is considered to be protracted. Such a cough (a month or longer) means that the disease causing it develops slowly and tends to become chronic.
If a cough does not leave a person for more than 3 months, it is classified as chronic. With chronic cough, periods of exacerbation alternate with periods of remission (when there is no cough). Chronic cough is also characterized by fixation - the occurrence of a cough at a certain time of day.
Chronic cough is an alarming symptom because it is usually a sign of serious illness. A constant cough loses its useful function and may itself be the cause of the development of certain pathologies.
Is the cough strong or weak?
A severe cough usually corresponds to acute illnesses. Chronic diseases are characterized by a weaker cough (coughing). Increasing cough means worsening of the disease.
Is the cough wet or dry?
A wet (or wet) cough is accompanied by sputum production, which is why it is also called productive. Microbes and their waste products are removed from the respiratory tract with sputum.
With a viral infection, the disease often begins with a dry cough , which subsequently turns into a wet one. The type of sputum is of great importance. The appearance of pus in the sputum indicates a bacterial infection.
An increase in its quantity may indicate an abscess rupture or worsening of the condition. An unfavorable sign is the appearance of blood in the sputum.
When does the cough appear?
The cough may not depend on the time of day, but in some cases the cough occurs in the morning or at night. If the cough is of an allergic nature, its occurrence is usually triggered by contact with an allergen.
Other characteristics of cough
Sometimes the cough is characterized as loud, chesty (with acute tracheitis), rough, “barking” (with laryngitis), deep, dull (with chronic bronchitis).
Causes of cough. Diseases that cause cough
The cause of cough may be:
- acute respiratory infections (flu, ARVI);
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract (chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, pharyngitis) - in this case, coughed up mucus enters the respiratory tract from the nasopharynx;
- laryngitis;
- acute or chronic tracheitis;
- acute or chronic bronchitis;
- pneumonia (pneumonia);
- pleurisy;
- bronchial asthma;
- tumor processes (including lung cancer);
- tuberculosis;
- heart failure;
- ascaridiosis (infection with roundworms);
- smoking;
- inhalation of polluted air (cough is common in representatives of some professions - miners, joiners, carpenters);
- taking certain medications used to treat heart disease and hypertension.
Child's cough
In children, the cause of cough can also be:
- whooping cough;
- measles;
- mouth breathing. If a child constantly has a stuffy nose and is used to breathing through his mouth, cold and dry air entering the respiratory tract that has not passed through the nasal sinuses can cause irritation of the mucous membrane and cough;
- entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. In this case, the cough begins suddenly, the child turns red and begins to choke. It is necessary to help the child cough up a foreign object, for which you should press his chest and stomach to a hard surface, tap between his shoulder blades, or hold him upside down and shake him, tapping on his back. If help fails, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately.
A cough is a reason to see a doctor
Cough is a very common symptom. Very often it is combined with other symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, sore throat or chest pain. In such cases, we usually resort to medical help in a timely manner.
But in other cases, cough may be the only symptom: other symptoms are completely absent or appear vaguely. And then the illusion arises that there is nothing serious and you don’t need to see a doctor. In this case, the cough is often chronic, since it is the chronic cough that, as a rule, acts as an isolated symptom.
This is a dangerous misconception. Since many serious diseases (tumors, lung cancer) in the initial stages can only manifest themselves as a cough.
In case of heart failure, the patient may complain of cough and not pay attention to other symptoms (shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, hypertension).
Therefore, if the cough does not leave you for several weeks ( a cough for more than a month is already a protracted cough) or if you notice an increase in cough in the morning or at night , be sure to consult a doctor.
If your child coughs, take him to the doctor. Children's immunity is weaker than that of an adult, so more sensitive monitoring is required over the child's health.
Perhaps the child is simply clearing his throat (a healthy child can cough up to 10-15 times a day - this is how his body clears the airways of dust and germs), or maybe he develops an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx or nasal breathing is impaired..
Which doctor should you contact if you have a cough?
If you complain of a cough, you should contact your general practitioner - family doctor or therapist. A prolonged, persistent cough is a reason to consult a pulmonologist. A child with a cough should be shown to a pediatrician.
Source: https://www.fdoctor.ru/simptom/kashel/
Causes of cough without cold in adults
Home › Cough
30.11.2019
A cough without a cold is a phenomenon that indicates diseases of the internal organs and systems of the body: the heart and blood vessels, the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes it indicates an allergy or the presence of foreign bodies in the respiratory system. Depending on the cause, the cough can be either dry or with sputum.
Causes of the phenomenon
Cough, being the body’s reaction to a certain irritant, is in most cases associated with colds. But sometimes it does not occur against the background of inflammatory infectious diseases.
Factors causing causeless dry (non-productive) cough
A dry cough without signs of a cold may indicate:
- an allergic reaction of the body due to the action of irritants - dust, plant spores, pet hair;
- bronchial asthma;
- otitis media of the inner or middle ear, the presence of cerumen plugs in the hearing organs;
- focal inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx. Cough occurs as a reaction to the flow of mucus from the nose along the surface of the pharynx into the tracheobronchial tree;
- presence of a foreign body in the respiratory tract;
- a disease of the digestive system in which stomach contents back up into the esophagus (reflux). Due to this deviation, the patient suffers from bouts of vomiting and coughing;
- complications caused by viral infectious diseases. If the main cold process has not been completely cured, then the inflammation spreads to the trachea, lungs and bronchi. This causes a cough without a cold, as well as pain in the larynx and chest;
- nervous tension. In this case, cough acts as a protective reaction of the body;
- hypersensitivity to certain drugs. Typically, a dry, causeless cough in an adult without a cold is a side reaction to taking Aspirin, ACE inhibitors, antibiotics, as well as to liquids intended for inhalation;
- the development of whooping cough, a bacterial disease in which the patient experiences paroxysmal spasmodic attacks that cause a lack of oxygen.
Causes of a wet cough without a cold
The causes of a productive cough without a cold in an adult are as follows:
- tuberculosis. This disease is characterized by the release of large amounts of sputum when coughing. The mucus is green in color and may contain traces of blood;
- damage to the lungs or esophagus as a result of prolonged smoking;
- helminthic infestations. Damage to the body by some types of parasites is accompanied by a cough with sputum production. This happens if the worms are localized in the respiratory organs, causing irritation of the lungs and bronchi;
- pneumonia. At the initial stage of the disease, the cough is unproductive, but after a while it becomes wet: with each attack, sputum is released, the color of which varies from light yellow to bright brown. Sometimes blood appears in the discharge;
- lung cancer, or bronchogenic carcinoma. In addition to coughing, which is accompanied by sputum with traces of blood, the patient experiences difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, severe chest pain, and discomfort when swallowing;
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, laryngitis). During coughing, clear mucus is released;
- lung abscess. In this case, a productive cough occurs after a purulent cavity breaks through. Until this moment, the patient suffers from a dry cough. After the necrotic fluid breaks through, up to 1000 ml of sputum is released daily.
Only a specialist can determine what, other than a cold, could cause a cough. He prescribes certain diagnostic measures, the results of which make it possible to identify the underlying pathology.
Diagnostics
The following diagnostic methods allow you to determine the causes of cough without cold in adults and children:
- X-ray of the chest organs, with the help of which pathological changes in them are determined;
- radiography of the sinuses;
- echocardiography;
- study of the composition of sputum discharge;
- general blood test, as well as blood testing for tumor markers;
- MRI or CT of mediastinal organs;
- bronchoscopy;
- testing to detect allergic reactions.
What causes a cough other than a cold? There are many reasons for this phenomenon: from long-term smoking, which contributes to irritation of the respiratory tract and esophagus, to malignant neoplasms of the lungs and other respiratory organs. It is possible to find out the origin of an unreasonable cough only after undergoing diagnostic procedures prescribed by a specialist after an initial examination.
Interesting video
Reasons why a cough occurs without a cold in an adult and a child, for what diseases
The reasons for a cough without a cold in an adult can be different. It is necessary to identify the disease or factors that caused the development of this condition in time in order to begin treatment correctly.
Symptoms of cough without cold, fever and sore throat
Sometimes a person may experience this symptom without signs of a cold. There is an incomprehensible cough at night, which goes away in the morning, but does not allow you to sleep. It often occurs on its own without significant symptoms. It happens due to an illness not related to a cold.
In children under 1 year of age, cough occurs less frequently than in older children. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing colds in babies.
If a child coughs, but there is no snot, and the body temperature is +36.6 ° C, then you should suspect an allergy to some substance or the development of whooping cough.
You cannot make a diagnosis on your own and self-medicate, because the respiratory system in children under 1 year of age is poorly developed, and sputum is difficult to cough up, which leads to stagnation of mucus in the lungs and bronchi.
This provokes the development of complications including pneumonia.
In an adult
There are many diseases that are accompanied by cough. Without a cold in an adult, this symptom can cause a permanent deterioration of the condition, developing for the following reasons:
- Heart failure.
- Allergic reactions.
- Bronchospasms.
- Exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Stagnation of mucus in the bronchi after acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Lung pathologies resulting from long-term smoking.
- Lung cancer or tuberculosis in any form.
- Problems related to the nervous system.
- Development of pleurisy.
There are productive (wet) and non-productive coughs. When productive, coughing or coughing provokes the expulsion of accumulated mucus from the bronchi. Unproductive is dry; during its attacks, the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are irritated. In order not to miss the development of pathology, you need to know the signs of dangerous diseases.
With sputum
You need to pay attention to the color of the mucus. Blood or pus is a signal for a full examination. An alarming symptom is an increase in the volume of sputum produced. If you have a runny nose without a cold, you should be alert to the following signs:
USEFUL: How to increase a child’s immunity if he is sick? Read more.
- increase in body temperature (+37.5…+38 °C) for 5-7 days;
- shortness of breath, pain in the chest area;
- severe weakness, chills, sweating, weight loss;
- a coughing attack that does not stop for an hour.
A severe, dry cough for a long time is not always associated with a cold. It can be caused by viruses, the development of an infection, or the initial stage of a dangerous disease. The following signs indicate the absence of a cold:
- An elevated body temperature along with a severe, dry cough may be due to the flu or an infection caused by bacteria. This condition often develops into asthma or bronchitis.
- Internal pathologies, the presence of foreign bodies or tumors in the respiratory tract can also be accompanied by a nonproductive cough.
- Allergies can also cause a dry cough associated with seasonal flowering of plants or other factors.
Possible causes not related to ARVI
An unreasonable attack, when the throat does not hurt, can be caused by dry air in the room or other internal or external factors. It doesn't matter when he appeared - at night or during the day. It is necessary to undergo an examination and eliminate the cause that provoked this condition.
Tuberculosis
With tuberculosis, the cough does not appear constantly, and with the focal form of the pathology it is completely absent. The symptom is pronounced in miliary tuberculosis. It can be dry, accompanied by a small amount of sputum. Destructive tuberculosis is characterized by a dull cough with a high metallic timbre due to the resonance of the cavity.
The first signal indicating the presence of worms is discomfort and sore throat, accompanied by a dry, unproductive cough.
With helminthic infestation, a cough may appear, which is often confused with ARVI. Parasites are able to migrate throughout the body through the bloodstream, localizing in the lungs and bronchi. Inflammation develops as a result of the vital activity of helminths; a dry cough appears, turning into a wet one with the discharge of sputum.
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Children are at risk because they come into contact with each other in kindergarten and school and can quickly become infected with helminths. A cough that develops due to worms can cause mental and physical development delays. It is necessary to undergo examination and begin treatment if the following symptoms are detected:
- sudden increase in body temperature, chills, fever;
- muscle pain;
- inflamed lymph nodes, which cause pain when palpated;
- nausea, pain in the upper abdomen;
- a feeling of a full stomach with rapid saturation, but the feeling of hunger comes quickly;
- change in the size of the liver and spleen (increase);
- insomnia, increased fatigue, severe irritability.
Laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis
By the nature of the cough and some signs, you can determine the disease:
- With laryngitis, this symptom is barking, unproductive, and exhausting. It appears most often at night. If left untreated, severe irritation of the laryngeal mucosa occurs, accompanied by pain. In a child, such a cough can provoke laryngeal stenosis or false croup.
- Tracheitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea) is accompanied by a dry hacking cough that is paroxysmal in nature. Appears at night or in the morning. The condition can be caused by laughter, a sharp deep breath, a rapid change in air temperature (going from a warm room to a cold one in winter). The attack is accompanied by severe pain in the trachea and chest. Breathing becomes shallow and quickens.
- In case of bronchitis, it helps remove phlegm, therefore it is protective. If the disease is identified correctly and the treatment is adequate, then within 3-5 days from the onset of the pathology it becomes productive. When listening to the patient, moist rales are heard. It lasts about 2 weeks until the bronchial tree is completely cleared of sputum.
Post-infectious
Post-infectious (residual) cough appears after acute respiratory infections. Its duration is 3-8 weeks. During this period, a person reacts sharply to any irritant (smoking, dust, cold air) and remains vulnerable to infections because the inflamed mucous membrane cannot fully perform protective functions.
Presence of a foreign object in the respiratory tract
If a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, frequent bouts of severe coughing and hoarseness may occur. The duration and intensity depend on the size of the foreign object, its shape, nature and location. When it is fixed in the larynx, the symptom will be less intense.
Read more: Chronic cough: main causes and treatment
When a foreign body moves freely through the respiratory tract (for example, a watermelon seed), a paroxysmal intense cough appears, which can increase when the object comes into contact with the walls of the trachea. May be intermittent, worsening at night or when the child is restless.
The attack may be accompanied by vomiting, blueness of the face, often the symptoms resemble whooping cough, and the diagnosis may be made incorrectly.
An allergic cough is the body’s response to the penetration of an allergen; the symptom is not associated with viruses and colds. It can last for several weeks, in severe cases - months.
If you ignore this condition without eliminating the allergen, complications may arise that can develop into asthma.
It is difficult to distinguish a cough from a cold. You need to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- appears suddenly at night;
- cough: dry, transparent secretions from the bronchi can be coughed up in small quantities only after a long attack;
- characterized by severe soreness that appears in the larynx, making breathing difficult;
- shortness of breath due to spasms of the smooth muscles of the bronchial walls;
- normal body temperature with a runny nose and severe cough;
- decreased blood pressure due to a sharp decrease in the tone of the artery walls;
- Often a rash may appear on the body due to nervous irritation of areas of the skin, itching.
Source: https://kgkb6.ru/kashel/prichiny-kashlya-bez-prostudy-u-vzroslyh-ot-chego-byvaet-i-kak-ustranit.html
Cough for no reason in adults - causeless without signs of a cold, persistent dry without fever in a person, constant coughing
The vast majority of people believe that cough is a characteristic accompaniment of colds. It is for this reason that it is not customary to perceive coughs and colds as separate components, which is a mistaken opinion.
Meanwhile, the nature of the appearance of a cough without a cold in an adult can be quite variable, and ARVI is often not even in first place on this list. It often happens that a cough appears involuntarily and is provoked by some irritant acting on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
Quite a variety of irritants can serve as provocateurs for this symptom, ranging from foreign objects to serious diseases.
Prolonged cough in an adult without a cold or fever - definition of a symptom
The symptom itself is quite dangerous and in any case makes you wary, especially if it has a chronic form.
In the case when this symptom is not of a cold nature, there is its own logical interpretation and causes of occurrence, which the doctor pays attention to when prescribing therapy.
There is an acceptable norm at which a healthy person coughs no more than 20 times a day, the rest should raise alarm bells and be a reason to contact a specialist. Find out why dry cough and chest pain occur by following the link.
If we are talking about the most common cold, then effective treatment can eliminate the cough in a short period of time, no more than two weeks. With proper therapy, an initially dry, debilitating cough becomes wet, alleviating the patient’s general condition.
The causes in the morning in an adult without a cold are of the following nature - respiratory tract diseases or lung disease. It often occurs when stomach acids enter the esophagus, accompanied by heartburn and a sour taste in the mouth.
This case is characterized by attacks in the evening and at night.
A frequent manifestation occurs in experienced smokers; this occurs due to damaged lungs and an irritated esophagus. In this case, the body finds it quite difficult to get rid of the cough.
Smokers experience bouts of this symptom immediately after waking up in the morning, which are accompanied by sputum production. This condition is standard for people with nicotine addiction, both in passive and active smokers.
In this case, there is only one way to get rid of an annoying cough - quit smoking.
A cough without a cold is a rather serious manifestation that can signal diseases of various natures.
Basic forms
There are two main forms of cough without cold:
- Productive.
- Unproductive.
Productive and night cough attacks
A productive or wet cough is a cough that is accompanied by the release of characteristic sputum from the bronchi. The peculiarity of this form is that this cough helps protect the body from viruses.
Usually wet occurs after dry in two to three days. This fact is the main confirmation that the patient is at the stage of recovery. There are often cases when a wet cough can indicate a certain stage of development of serious illnesses. Often these are diseases such as tuberculosis or pneumonia.
A wet or productive cough can be periodic or constant. Depending on the way it is expressed, it can be strong or weak. The mucus produced during a cough is usually thick or thin. Green sputum without fever is also found.
Before starting treatment for wet in an adult, you should consult a doctor.
If blood is present in the sputum secreted, we can talk about the presence of a serious disease, such as tuberculosis. In addition, the patient may have Goodpasture's syndrome, pulmonary thromboelia, or bronchiectasis.
Unproductive
Unproductive or dry is not accompanied by the release of sputum from the respiratory tract. And due to the lack of secretions, the mucous membrane is subject to greater irritation. A special feature of this cough can rightfully be considered its reflex nature.
A nonproductive, prolonged cough with a whistling sound is considered more serious than a productive cough. This form of cough is possible with sinusitis, laryngitis, and rhinitis. It can also last for two to three days or several weeks in those who recently suffered from influenza.
In cases where a cough, especially a non-productive one, does not disappear for more than two weeks, and its nature is unknown, the patient must consult a specialist.
Causes
A cough is only a symptom of a disease, to determine which it is necessary to consider other manifestations. In cases where a cough is not a characteristic sign of a cold, we can talk about the following reasons:
- Bronchospasm.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Allergy.
- Effects of dust on the respiratory system.
- ACE inhibitors, used to reduce blood pressure.
Factors that provoke a cough may be more serious, for example:
A cough without a cold is often a common symptom of asthma. The patient's condition worsens when inhaling strong odors, cold air, pollen or smoke.
If the cold does not go away, then regular coughing accompanies allergic rhinitis. Additional symptoms of the disease are rash, tearing, nasal congestion, sneezing, and often headache.
The most dangerous allergens are considered to be food; plant pollen; animal hair; book dust. Allergies are fairly easy to diagnose.
Attacks appear immediately at the moment of close contact with the allergen.
In order to prescribe treatment for cough, it is necessary to determine the causes of its occurrence and the disease itself, which is characterized by these symptoms.
Possible diseases, symptoms and signs
The appearance of a cough informs a person that the body is sick and requires effective therapy. There are a number of different diseases characterized by the presence of such a symptom. Such ailments can rightfully include:
- The initial stage of laryngitis.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Emphysema.
- Smoker's Qatar.
- Entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.
- Serious lung cancer.
- Aortic aneurysm.
- Tuberculosis at different stages.
- Disorders of the nervous system of the body.
- Allergic reaction to dust and chemicals.
It is almost impossible to diagnose the disease by cough alone, which is why it is necessary to seek help from specialists.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
In order to have a sufficient picture of the disease and prescribe a course of treatment, it is necessary to undergo an examination.
Diagnostics
Initially, you need to consult a therapist who will refer you to another doctor who specializes in the suspected disease. During the diagnostic process, the specialist will take into account certain points:
- Time of onset of coughing attacks.
- Form of cough: productive or non-productive.
- Additional changes in well-being.
Next, the cough must be classified according to the duration of its occurrence:
- Acute – up to 2 weeks.
- Protracted – up to 4 weeks.
- Subacute – up to 2 months.
- Chronic – more than 2 months in a row.
Quite often there are cases when accompanying symptoms are not taken into account or are not found at all, for example, loss of appetite, constant drowsiness, general weakness of the body.
A non-productive cough without signs of a cold in an adult is usually associated with lack of sleep or stress.
Additional effective methods include hardware diagnostics (X-ray, CT, electrocardiography), laboratory blood/urine tests.
It is also necessary to take into account the likelihood of disorders associated with the nervous system. For mental disorders, cough medicines do not help, even if they block the reflex. In this case, consultation with a neurologist or psychotherapist is necessary.
If the cough is not accompanied by other symptoms characteristic of a cold, then it is necessary to conduct a series of special studies aimed at determining the diagnosis.
Treatment method
Cases of prolonged or acute cough without other signs of colds require special monitoring by a doctor. Consultation with a specialist should be carried out immediately if the following manifestations occur:
- Heat.
- Blurred consciousness.
- Change in speech.
- Cardiopalmus.
- Swelling of the limbs.
- Pain when swallowing and breathing.
Drugs for the treatment of productive and non-productive cough drugs for the treatment of productive and non-productive cough
Traditional therapy and prevention of dry cough with whistling
Ears hurt when you have a cold - how to treat it and how dangerous this symptom is
Can you take the antipyretic “Paracetamol” if you have a cold, if you don’t have a fever, read here.
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Experienced doctors strongly do not recommend using traditional medicine recipes to eliminate coughs without signs of a cold.
Household medicine can significantly alleviate some symptoms, but there is no way to get rid of them, much less cure the cause.
In this case, it is important to understand that each individual medicine for a particular type of cough has characteristic features. For non-productive forms, antitussives are prescribed; for productive forms, mucolytic and expectorant drugs are prescribed.
To speed up recovery, a potential patient must normalize work and rest schedules, quit bad habits, especially smoking, and adjust their diet. In addition to traditional medications, antivirals, antihistamines and antibiotics are prescribed.
A cough without characteristic signs of a cold in an adult worsens in the dark, and to alleviate the condition, the following measures must be used:
- When a cough without a cold is caused by tobacco smoke, it is necessary to ventilate the room, drink warm tea or a glass of water.
- In case of an allergic cough, be sure to exclude all possible contacts with a potential allergen: ventilate the room, on the contrary, close the window to prevent pollen from entering, gargle with a salty solution and wash your hands with it.
- In case of significantly more frequent attacks, you should always have a mint candy with you.
- For diseases of the throat cavity, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm water, as well as maintain humidified, fresh air in the room.
Following basic prevention rules will help prevent coughing. When a cough is already present, it is important to get effective treatment.
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conclusions
A cough is just a symptom of a disease, both cold and other, that is, a cough without a cold. In most cases, it appears together with other symptoms, the identification of which will help in determining the correct diagnosis.
To determine the disease, it is necessary to have an idea of the form of its course. There are a number of possible illnesses associated with coughing. It is necessary to understand the importance of observation by a specialist for effective therapy.
In any case, it is better to take preventive measures to avoid coughing than to treat the symptom itself in the future. Find out more about acute bronchitis here.
Source: https://drLOR.online/diagnostika-lechenie/kashel/prichiny-bez-prostudy-u-vzroslogo.html
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