Wet cough: in what cases is it dangerous and what treatment is required?

When a wet cough appears, how to treat it and how to deal with this unpleasant symptom, not everyone knows.

A wet cough, which greatly bothers a person and does not go away for a long time, can be one of the unpleasant symptoms of a particular disease of the lungs or bronchi.

In medicine, such a cough is called productive and is a normal reaction of the human body to existing sputum, the composition and quantity of which has changed greatly.

No less effective in the fight against this disease will be inhalations, taking certain mixtures and some traditional medicine.

If this disease is treated for a very long time, it can provoke a greater accumulation of sputum, and its removal during coughing will be more difficult.

What do you need to know?

Frequent or constant production of sputum is mainly observed if a person has problems with the respiratory system. This condition occurs in a patient in the following cases:

• as a result of excessive formation of the so-called bronchial secretion (most often observed when a person has bronchitis and other ailments);
• during the transition of blood plasma from the vessels to the lungs (for example, this may be swelling of the lungs);
• in the process of releasing pus from the pulmonary cavity (observed in tuberculosis).

Taking into account the type of secretion being discharged, specialists determine the ailment that provoked the wet cough, and only then prescribe a more appropriate treatment.

In addition to some colds, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, an increased wet cough can be caused by some other conditions:

1. Sinusitis or rhinitis, which results in inflammation of the nasal cavity or sinuses. During the development of this disease, accumulated mucus enters directly into the larynx from the nasopharynx, which provokes a cough at night or early in the morning.
2. Whooping cough is most often accompanied by a paroxysmal cough with sputum production.
3. With asthma, the patient, in addition to a strong wet cough, may experience shortness of breath, and whistling sounds will be heard during breathing.
4. With tuberculosis, a wet cough will be observed, and streaks of blood will be noticeably visible in the sputum.

All of the above symptoms can not only accompany a cough, but even significantly worsen it, negatively affecting the course of the disease.

What provokes it?

In addition to certain diseases that cause such a symptom, the following reasons can provoke a cough with sputum production:

1. Hypothermia. In this case, a person may experience not only an increased cough with sputum production, but also an increased body temperature. Especially in winter.
2. Various seasonal allergies. With such an illness, it is under no circumstances worth treating a lingering cough with sputum with the drugs that are developed for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections. If such an oversight is made, the person’s condition may worsen.
3. Work in organizations where human health is at risk. People who are hypersensitive may suffer from a lingering wet cough even while using certain personal protective equipment. These include masks and respirators.
4. Living in a place with poor ecology. This disease most often occurs in an adult and even in the elderly.
5. Cardiovascular diseases. A progressive cough most often occurs in the evening immediately after eating or at night. In the morning and during the daytime, this symptom is completely absent.
6. Bad habits. Coughing attacks with sputum production most often occur early in the morning immediately after waking up.

Attacks of wet cough can be triggered not only by colds, but also by a large number of other factors. To find out the exact cause of this symptom and prescribe the correct treatment, a person needs to consult with his doctor, who will suggest a method of treatment.

Drug treatment

Let's look at how to treat a wet cough. It is necessary to begin treatment only after the specialist has accurately compiled the clinical picture of the patient and understands the type of disease.

During this process, the sputum that is released when coughing will completely accumulate in the lungs, which can cause an inflammatory process. In this case, infections that enter the human body will actively develop.

To treat a cough with sputum that is viral or bacterial in nature, you should take medications that can cause expectoration and irritation of sputum. You can cure an annoying cough using the same syrups.

Medicines for wet cough are created on the basis of certain beneficial plant substances. The most effective drugs today, which are very popular, are the following:

• Pectoral;
• overslept;
• Herbiot;
• Bromhexine.

They are intended to treat any type of cough. They can be taken both at the moment when coughing up sputum occurs, and with a dry cough. When purchasing a medicine, you should clarify that you need exactly the syrup that helps in the treatment of wet cough.

A remedy for a wet cough can also be a mucolytic, which can quickly remove all accumulated phlegm from the patient’s body. These drugs include the following:

Expectorant drugs are as follows:

• Dr. MOM;
• Mucaltin tablets;
• Travisil.

In addition, if a wet cough torments an adult, then you can safely use special homeopathic ointments. They quickly penetrate the patient’s body through the skin. This is the most effective remedy for warming up all the patient's airways.

In order to get rid of a progressive cough yourself at home, you can make a special mixture based on mineral water and saline with a small addition of pine essential oil in an amount of only 2-3 drops.

Today, you can get rid of a painful wet cough using a nebulizer, which can be purchased at any pharmacy in the city. This device is the best tool for inhalation at home.

The steam flow is directed specifically into the patient’s respiratory tract and does not disperse everywhere. The duration of this procedure has no restrictions, the patient himself is able to control this process, which is also a positive factor.

ethnoscience

Not everyone knows how to treat cough with sputum using traditional medicine. Nevertheless, there are effective remedies for wet cough. However, it is not possible to say which medicine is the most effective.

Self-treatment of a wet cough at home can be quite effective only if the patient uses all the necessary medicinal herbs, as well as other useful remedies. There are a lot of recipes and methods thanks to which you can get rid of such an unpleasant symptom in the shortest possible time.

1. Infusion based on flaxseeds. To prepare a remedy for the treatment of wet cough, you need to take only 2 tsp. flax seeds and add 250 ml of water. This composition should be cooked for 10 minutes. After the decoction is prepared, it needs to be given time to brew. The medicine must be taken exclusively warm with a small addition of honey throughout the day.
2. Sage infusion as a remedy for wet cough. In order to prepare such a preparation, you should take 1 tbsp. dried sage and pour 250 ml of boiled water. This cough medicine should be infused for 25 minutes. The resulting infusion should be carefully filtered and mixed with milk. This drug should be taken warm about 4 times a day.

You can get rid of a cough with sputum production using onions or garlic. For a positive effect, you need to take a vegetable, cut it in half and then inhale the medicinal vapors.

Those products that are prepared on the basis of various medicinal herbs will perfectly help cope with a wet cough. One of these preparations is a decoction prepared from linden blossom.

To prepare you need to take 1 tbsp. lime blossom and mix it with 0.5 tbsp. birch buds. After this, the general composition is poured with 250 ml of water and boiled for 5 minutes.

No less effective is a remedy for wet cough prepared from black radish. This medicine can relieve the patient’s fever. In order to prepare the medicine, you need to take this root vegetable and thoroughly peel it.

After this, the black radish is chopped and placed on a plate. Top the root crop with honey. After some time, the radish will begin to release juice, which helps to cope with the symptoms. You need to take 1 tsp of juice. for 1 time.

Tea made from ginger root will also help cope with a wet cough. To do this you need to take only 1 tsp. well chopped root and pour 1 tbsp. boiled water. You should drink this tea with a little honey.

Medicines for coughs with phlegm can be absolutely anything, be it a simple medicinal tablet or a traditional medicine.

Milk with garlic will also help cope with this disease very well. In order to prepare a medicine based on these products, you need to take only 5 cloves of garlic and separate them from the peel. They are poured with 250 ml of hot milk, after which the entire composition is infused for 25 minutes. This medicine must be taken 2-3 times a day warm.

• Conclusion.
• If you are tired of a painful wet cough, then do not put off visiting a specialist who, after a thorough examination, will find out the root cause of this symptom and prescribe the correct treatment.

Source: https://kasheld.ru/lekarstva/chem-lechit-mokryj-kashel

The most effective drugs for treating wet cough

A wet, painful cough is one of the symptoms of colds, which are accompanied by inflammation of the ENT organs. To improve well-being and relieve cough, symptomatic medications are used.

Medicine for wet cough thins bronchopulmonary mucus (phlegm) and speeds up its expectoration. The action of some medications is aimed at relaxing the muscles of the bronchi, expanding them and preventing coughing attacks.

Such drugs are used for allergic bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and asthma.

Classification of drugs for wet cough

Cough is the main symptom of most pathologies accompanied by inflammation of the respiratory system. To eliminate it, use:

• mucolytics - thin the bronchopulmonary secretion without increasing its water content;
• expectorants – increase the volume of water in sputum, which leads to a decrease in its viscosity.

For wet, paroxysmal cough, bronchodilators (bronchodilators) are also prescribed.

Antitussive drugs act differently - they inhibit the cough reflex by suppressing the cough center in the medulla oblongata or reducing the sensitivity of receptors along the respiratory tract. They are prescribed for wet coughs extremely rarely, as they can lead to stagnation of mucus and pneumonia.

Top 20 drugs for wet cough

Mucolytic is the best remedy for wet cough, which has thinning properties. Secretolytic drugs help cleanse the lungs by expectorating mucus. Such drugs are first-line drugs that are used for colds, flu, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and tracheitis.

ACC

Effervescent water-soluble tablets are used to thin the mucus in the bronchi. They contain acetylcysteine, which has a long-lasting effect. Taking tablets provides:

• reducing mucus viscosity;
• expectoration of sputum;
• neutralization of toxins in ENT organs.

For a wet, painful cough in adolescents and adults, 600 mg of acetylcysteine ​​per day is prescribed. The dose is not increased without a doctor’s recommendation, since ACC provokes side effects - allergies, tachyarrhythmia, vomiting, headaches, etc.

Herbion primrose syrup

The combined medicine with herbal components has a moderate antitussive, decongestant and secretomotor (expectorant) effect. Used as a mucolytic to remove phlegm from the lungs.

Children take 1, and adults – 2 scoops of Herbion three times a day. If the productivity of a wet cough does not increase, the dose is increased according to the recommendation of an ENT doctor.

Bronkatar

Carbocysteine ​​is the active ingredient in expectorant syrup, which inhibits the production of mucus in the bronchi, sinuses, trachea, etc. Used to treat cough attacks with:

• chronic sinusitis;
• bronchitis;
• nasopharyngitis;
• posterior rhinitis;
• tarcheobronchitis.

Children drink 1-2 tsp, and adults drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day. In case of acute inflammation of the lower respiratory system, the course of therapy is up to 10 days.

Bromhexine

An effective remedy for wet cough in adults is prescribed for bronchopulmonary pathologies associated with excess mucus production. Expectorant syrup is included in mucolytic therapy for bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, etc. It is taken no more than 3 times a day before meals. The optimal single dose for patients over 18 years of age is 2-4 tsp, and for children under 12 years of age – 2 tsp.

Lazolvan

Tablets for wet coughs in adults contain ambroxol, which increases the concentration of water in bronchopulmonary secretions. Used to eliminate cough attacks in respiratory diseases.

This mucolytic drug rarely causes side effects. Even babies can be given 1 tablet up to 3 times a day.

 Lazolvan accelerates the expectoration of mucus, thereby eliminating a wet, paroxysmal cough.

overslept

Drops with components of plant origin have the following properties:

• antitussives;
• antispasmodic;
• mucolytic;
• expectorants.

Eliminate cough with phlegm by liquefying it and stimulating the cleansing function of the respiratory mucosa. Dry ivy extract relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tree, preventing coughing attacks. For obstruction (blockage) of the bronchi, drink 5-7.5 ml up to 3 times a day.

Erespal

Bronchodilator tablets are used to remove mucus from the ENT organs when:

• bronchitis;
• nasopharyngitis;
• allergic rhinitis;
• flu;
• sinusitis;
• obstructive pulmonary disease.

As part of complex therapy, it is prescribed for tracheobronchitis and allergic bronchitis. For chronic inflammation of the respiratory system, you should take 2, and for acute inflammation - 3 tablets per day.

Soledum

Mucolytic medications for wet coughs in adults facilitate the passage of mucus and restore the cleansing function of the bronchi. For viral infections of the ENT organs, Soledum is used, which has combined properties. It reduces the density and stickiness of mucus, relieves inflammation in the respiratory system and accelerates the resorption of edema.

For acute respiratory infections, take 1 capsule three times a day. The duration of the course depends on the severity and nature of the disease.

Mukaltin

Mucus-thinning tablets for wet coughs in adults accelerate the removal of bronchopulmonary mucus from the respiratory system. Their action is aimed at stimulating the work of the glands contained in the bronchopulmonary system. Due to this, the water content in sputum increases and the density decreases.

The medicine is used for wet and unproductive cough caused by inflammation of the trachea, pharynx or bronchopulmonary system. Take 1-2 tablets up to 4 times a day.

Vicks Active MedExpecto

For wet coughs in adults and children, expectorant syrup based on guaifenesin is used. It increases the water content in sputum, thereby reducing its viscosity. If the upper respiratory system is affected, take 100-200 mg of guaifenesin up to 4 times a day. In case of purulent inflammation of the nasal cavity, it is recommended to combine the drug with other mucolytics.

Dr. Theiss cough syrup

For mucus that is difficult to separate, use a mucolytic drug in the form of a suspension. It contains ivy leaf extract, which has the combined properties of:

• relieves spasm from the muscles of the bronchi;
• suppresses the cough reflex;
• reduces sputum density;
• removes mucous secretions from the ENT organs.

For a wet, spasmodic cough, drink 10-15 ml of the drug 2 or 3 times a day.

Bronchostop

The medicine with extracts of thyme, thyme and marshmallow has pronounced antimicrobial, mucolytic and antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) properties. Available in the form:

It is prescribed to eliminate wet paroxysmal cough in case of bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, etc. The dose is determined by the release form of Bronchostop:

• lozenges – 1 pc. every 3 hours (no more than 6 lozenges per day);
• syrup – 10-15 ml every 3-4 hours;
• drops - 10-20 drops every 5-6 hours.

The maximum duration of therapy is 5 days.

Ammonia-anise drops

The combined remedy is used for inflammatory ENT pathologies accompanied by coughing attacks. It contains an aqueous solution of ammonia and anise oil, which have the following properties:

• destroy pathogenic microbes;
• dilute and remove mucus from the bronchi;
• restore the cleansing function of the bronchi.

When treating pharyngitis, whooping cough, bronchopneumonia, take 10-15 drops 3 times a day, diluted with 1 tbsp. l. boiled water.

Pertussin

The syrup softens the throat, reduces the sensitivity of sensory receptors and thins mucus in the respiratory tract. Contains components of plant origin:

• thyme extract;
• thyme extract.

It is used in the symptomatic treatment of wet spasmodic cough in bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough and associated pathologies.

Dosage for 3 doses per day:

• 3-6 years – ½ tsp;
• 6-9 years – 1 tsp;
• 9-14 years old – 1 tbsp. l.

When treating children, it is necessary to dilute the syrup with mineral or boiled water in a ratio of 1:2.

Licorice root syrup

Herbal medicine is prescribed to adults for respiratory diseases accompanied by coughing attacks. Licorice root extract relieves spasms from the muscles of the trachea, bronchi, and pharynx, and also facilitates the passage of mucus. Children under 6 years old are recommended to drink 2.5 ml, over 6 years old - 5-10 ml of medicine up to 3 times a day.

Pulmolor

Mucolytic drugs for wet coughs not only thin the mucus, but also reduce the sensitivity of sensory receptors.

Pulmolor soothes non-productive coughs, reduces the volume of mucus in the lungs and accelerates its removal from the respiratory system.

The tablets contain the antiallergic component loratadine, which relieves the mucous membrane of swelling. Adults take 2 tablets per day - morning and evening.

Mucitus

Mucolytic capsules have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect on the respiratory system. For a painful wet cough, you should take 200-300 mg of the drug twice a day. Mucitus is effective for indolent and acute pathologies of the ENT organs caused by allergies or infections. Prescribed for the prevention of attacks due to pneumonia and obstruction (narrowing) of the bronchi.

Pulmozyme

The combined agent has secretomotor properties. Used to dilute serous or purulent fluid in the respiratory tract for:

• bronchial obstruction;
• bronchiectasis;
• cystic fibrosis;
• sluggish pneumonia.

Used in the form of inhalations, 1 ampoule (2.5 ml) without saline solution or mineral water, 1 time per day.

Dry cough syrup

Powder for dry and wet cough has a mucolytic and secretomotor effect. Contains herbal ingredients:

• licorice root;
• marshmallow extract;
• anise oil.

It is used as an antitussive and mucus-thinning agent, 5-10 ml up to 4 times a day.

Stoptussin

The medicine is available in the form of tablets and drops for oral administration. It has analgesic, expectorant and antitussive effects.

Drug dosage:

• Drops. Children 2-6 years old are prescribed 8-14, 7-13 years old - 20-30 drops 3 times a day. For adults, the single dose is increased to 40 drops.
• Pills. Children weighing up to 50 kg take ½, and adults – 1 tablet 4 times a day.

Stoptussin is used to eliminate cough in case of infectious and inflammatory lesions of the respiratory tract.

Other effective medicines for wet cough

Which tablets or suspensions to take when coughing depends on the nature of the disease. Mucolytics facilitate expectoration of sputum, which helps eliminate factors that irritate cough receptors in the respiratory tract. Due to this, the likelihood of attacks and suffocating coughs is reduced.

For colds, the following medications are prescribed:

• Bronchophyte;
• Ambrobene;
• Fluditek;
• Mucopront;
• Flavamed;
• Bronchorus;
• Linkas;
• Coldact Broncho;
• Gelomirtol;
• Eucabalus, etc.

Antitussive medications are not recommended for use in combination with mucolytics. This is fraught with stagnation of viscous secretions in the respiratory organs, infectious inflammation and associated complications - pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, pleurisy.

Treatment of dry cough

To relieve a severe dry cough, medications are prescribed that suppress the cough reflex in one of two ways:

• due to inhibition of the functions of the cough center;
• by reducing the sensitivity of receptors in the ENT organs.

To eliminate cough attacks, use Tussal, Sinekod, Ledin, Codelac, Omnitus, etc. When coughing up mucus, antitussives are abandoned in favor of mucolytics. The treatment regimen and duration of medication should be determined only by the attending physician.

Source: https://kashelproch.ru/vidy/vlazhniy/lekarstvo-ot-mokrogo-kashlya

How to treat wet cough in adults | Causes of wet (wet, expectorant) cough | Doctor MOM®

Content:

Causes of a wet cough Sputum for a wet cough Methods for treating a wet cough Inhalations for a wet cough Drinking plenty of warm fluids for a wet cough Regimen for a wet cough Mucolytic drugs for a wet cough

Coughing is a natural protective reaction of the body to irritation of the respiratory tract. It is not a disease, but a symptom of various pulmonary and other pathologies. By its nature it can be unproductive (dry) and productive (wet).

With colds, the transition from a non-productive form to a productive form indicates the beginning of recovery.

Therefore, a reasonable question arises: is it necessary to treat a wet cough with sputum? Definitely! Competent complex therapy speeds up the process of clearing mucus from the bronchi and helps to quickly cope with the disease.

Treatment of wet cough in adults is prescribed only after studying the accompanying symptoms and finding out the true cause of its occurrence.

Causes of wet cough

The main cause of a wet (productive) cough is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs.

Its development can be provoked by influenza, ARVI, rhinitis, inflammatory diseases of the throat (tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis), bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.

A condition in which a strong dry cough is replaced by a wet one is a sign of the beginning of the clearing of the respiratory tract from accumulated sputum and pathogenic bacteria contained in it.

Sputum with wet cough

Before treating a wet cough in an adult, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory test of sputum to determine the nature of the disease. Tracheobronchial secretion may have a liquid, thick or viscous consistency. The presence of a large amount of mucus in it signals the presence of an allergic or cold-infectious process in the bronchi and lungs.

The yellowish-green color of sputum, caused by impurities of pus, may indicate the development of bronchitis or pneumonia. The appearance of white, cheesy discharge during expectoration warns of the likelihood of a fungal respiratory infection, and clear, watery sputum usually accompanies viral infections or chronic diseases of the respiratory system.

It is important to know!

When treating a wet cough accompanied by sputum discharge, the use of antitussive drugs is contraindicated. By blocking the central or peripheral links of the corresponding reflex, they lead to the accumulation and stagnation of a large amount of mucus, which is a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.

Drugs for the treatment of wet cough are mucolytic agents. The group of modern effective mucolytics made on the basis of plant components includes Doctor MOM® syrup and Doctor MOM® herbal lozenges.

Methods for treating wet cough

How to get rid of wet cough in adults? First of all, certain properties of sputum should be changed to facilitate its discharge without increasing the volume. For this purpose, patients are prescribed secretolytic (thinning) and expectorant drugs.

Before starting treatment, you should consult a doctor who, after finding out the true cause of the cough, will help you choose the most suitable medication and prescribe the correct dosage.

Inhalations for wet cough

A productive wet cough without fever can be treated with inhalations. These procedures, based on the inhalation of medicinal and biologically active substances, help reduce thickness and viscosity, more actively liquefy and remove sputum. To treat cough, steam inhalers and nebulizers are used, to which special medications are added.

Inhalations that help moisturize the mucous membrane help to quickly reduce pain, reduce the viscosity of sputum, eliminate spasms and relax the muscles of the bronchi.

You can use Doctor MOM® Phyto ointment, which has a local irritating, distracting, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect.

Drink plenty of warm fluids for wet coughs

When answering the question of how to cure a wet cough in an adult, it is worth mentioning another necessary and effective method of treatment: drinking plenty of vitamins.

During a cold, you should drink more liquid than usual to moisturize the mucous membrane and quickly thin the mucus.

This can be warm mineral water, herbal decoctions, teas, fruit drinks, milk in combination with honey, etc.

Optimal air humidity is 40-60%. To improve expectoration, it is recommended to use a high pillow, as well as regularly perform a special drainage massage.

During illness, you should refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.

Mucolytic drugs against wet cough

One of the remedies indicated for use for coughs with the discharge of viscous sputum is Doctor MOM® syrup. The components included in this medicine have a complex of therapeutic properties, due to which the syrup has the following effects:

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Mucolytic;
• Bronchodilator;
• Expectorant.

For inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, accompanied by an unproductive cough, the use of Doctor MOM® drugs helps reduce negative symptoms and restore the normal state of the bronchi and lungs.

To avoid disruption of the discharge of liquefied sputum, expectorant herbal syrup is not recommended to be taken in combination with antitussive drugs, which are aimed at blocking the cough reflex, and not at treating cough.

You may also be interested

• Cold symptoms in adults
• Herbal remedies for cough
• How to calm a night cough?

Source: https://www.doktormom.ru/lechim-vzroslyh/kashel/kak-lechit-vlazhnyj-kashel

When a cough is dangerous - Best Clinic

Bronchoscopy

Coughing that occurs with diseases of the respiratory tract is a protective reaction that ensures their patency.

Coughing that occurs with diseases of the respiratory tract is a protective reaction that ensures their patency. Coughing helps the body get rid of mucus and foreign bodies. The cough center located in the brain regulates the process.

Is a cough always dangerous?

Single coughs are not dangerous. They are caused by the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract, which the body tries to get rid of. Most often this happens in the morning.

You should not worry if the cough reflex arose due to irritation of the respiratory system from tobacco smoke, laundry detergents, or exhaust fumes.

This is how the body gets rid of harmful substances that enter the lungs and from there into the blood.

A person may cough due to the use of vasoconstrictors for the common cold or medications to treat hypertension. In this case, there is no need to worry either. But a cough that does not go away during the day and gets worse at night or in the morning is an unfavorable sign, indicating damage to the respiratory system and esophagus, allergic diseases, tumors and other dangerous conditions.

What is a cough like?

Cough can be different - this is an important sign indicating processes occurring in the respiratory tract. Cough occurs:

• Dry and unproductive, not accompanied by sputum production. It occurs with viral infections complicated by bronchitis, pneumonia or tracheitis. This type of cough often accompanies tumors of the respiratory tract and esophagus, allergies and inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.
• Barking. This is a complicated version of dry cough. “Ringing” cough shocks are caused by swelling of the laryngeal tissues. In children, they may be accompanied by croup - a narrowing of the laryngeal lumen, due to which the baby can suffocate. This type of cough occurs with laryngitis, tracheitis, whooping cough and diphtheria.
• Wet is accompanied by the discharge of sputum, which can be of different viscosity and color (mucous, purulent, bloody-purulent). It can be very strong, because the body needs to clear the airways. A large amount of discharge is expectorated during bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscesses, and tuberculosis.
• Bronchial (asthmatic), appearing in people with asthma. Cough shocks are combined with chest pain, wheezing, difficulty breathing, discharge of mucus and viscous sputum.
• Smoker's cough develops in 90% of people suffering from this bad habit. It occurs in the morning and is accompanied by expectoration of clots of sputum. Such a cough is dangerous because a person who has been “writing off” a cough for a long time as a side effect of smoking does not consult a doctor if serious diseases of the respiratory system occur.

When does a cough occur?

This is another important parameter in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases.

• In the morning (washing cough) occurs due to inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. It can be dry or accompanied by the discharge of sputum that has accumulated overnight.
• In the evening, people suffer from a wet cough that occurs with bronchitis and pneumonia.
• At night, coughing shocks occur when the vagus nerve is excited, which accompanies tuberculosis and tumors.
• When changing body position, patients with congestion in the lungs and bronchi cough.
• While eating - this cough occurs due to diseases of the esophagus (tumors, fistulas).

Prolonged cough is an indication for bronchoscopy

It is very difficult to determine what exactly caused the cough based on its symptoms alone. The same disease can cause different types of cough.

Often, patients have several pathologies of the respiratory tract, the symptoms of which complement each other.

Therefore, in case of prolonged (more than two weeks), severe or recurring cough, bronchoscopy is prescribed, during which the doctor evaluates the condition of the respiratory tract.

A bronchoscope, a device with a camera, is inserted into the patient’s respiratory tract, allowing one to see what is in the lungs and bronchi. During the procedure, tissue samples can be taken for biopsies, foreign bodies can be removed, and minor operations can be performed.

The procedure is carried out under general or local anesthesia; patients especially often choose bronchoscopy in combination with medicated sleep - this technique does not cause any discomfort at all. The study is carried out on an empty stomach and does not require special preparation. Its duration is only 30–40 minutes.

After the examination, you may experience pain when swallowing, a feeling of a “lump” and numbness in the throat. All these phenomena go away on their own in just a couple of days. But the result of this procedure is priceless - bronchoscopy allows you to find out any causes of cough, thanks to which the doctor selects a truly effective treatment.

Source: https://bestclinic.ru/press/articles/kogda-kashel-eto-opasno/

Moist cough

A wet cough is a cough that produces mucous or mucopurulent sputum. The symptom develops against the background of chest pain (thoracalgia), wheezing, and signs of general intoxication of the body. This type of cough is observed with bronchitis and other bronchopulmonary pathologies, respiratory infections, and heart failure. To determine the root cause of the disorder, radiography, spirography, bronchoscopy, and laboratory tests are performed. In order to reduce discomfort, inhalations, mucolytics, expectorants, and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

The sputum released after a cough attack is usually represented by a mucous secretion, which is formed when the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles) is damaged.

As inflammation develops, mucus production and removal increases to clear the respiratory system of pathogens or foreign particles. In turn, the mucus stimulates the nerve endings, causing a cough.

After the wet secretion (mucus or pus) is discharged, the state of health improves somewhat.

Bronchitis

In acute forms of bronchitis, the cough is initially dry. Sputum begins to disappear on the 2-3rd day of the disease, while the condition improves noticeably, pain in the chest area subsides. A specific productive cough is characteristic of such types of bronchial inflammation as:

• Obstructive bronchitis . More often occurs in children under 3 years of age against the background of a viral infection. Characterized by intense coughing attacks, after which a small amount of viscous secretion is released. The child has difficulty breathing, characterized by bulging of the intercostal spaces and swelling of the wings of the nose when breathing. When exhaling, a “wheezing” sound and quiet wheezing are heard. Exacerbations more than 3 times a year indicate a relapsing course.
• Asthmatic bronchitis . A typical symptom is bouts of painful coughing lasting several minutes, after which viscous glassy sputum is released and relief occurs. Before a cough paroxysm, the throat is slightly sore, there is a slight feeling of malaise, and nasal congestion. Exacerbation is provoked by strong odors, inhalation of dust, contact with animal hair, and plant pollen.
• Atrophic bronchitis . In the classic version of the disease, a painful dry cough is first observed, associated with physical activity, inhalation of pollutants or household dust. Subsequently, a small or moderate amount of sputum begins to be coughed up, resembling mucus in consistency. During an exacerbation, the temperature rises to low-grade levels, mild chills, chest pain, and shortness of breath appear.
• Purulent bronchitis . During an attack, yellow or greenish sputum with an unpleasant odor is discharged profusely. In acute inflammation and during the period of exacerbation of the chronic process, the volume of purulent secretion released per day is 150-250 ml. The cough is combined with a fever of more than 38°C, sweating, and weakness. I am concerned about intense chest pain and a feeling of lack of air during physical activity.

When chronic purulent bronchitis develops into bronchiectasis, coughing attacks become constant, and purulent sputum becomes foul-smelling and profuse (up to several hundred milliliters per day).

It is secreted especially abundantly in the morning (expectoration “mouth full”) or after being in the so-called drainage position (lying on the affected side with the head end of the bed lowered).

With a high intensity of wet cough, the blood vessels of the thinned walls of the bronchi rupture, which leads to hemoptysis, and in severe cases, to pulmonary hemorrhage.

Bronchial asthma

The discharge of a small amount of moist, odorless mucus-like secretion indicates the end of an attack of bronchial asthma. The sputum is usually colorless.

A possible yellowish or greenish tint of mucus is due to the breakdown of eosinophils, bronchial epithelium, other cells, and less commonly, the presence of pus during secondary infection of the bronchi.

After coughing up sputum, the patient’s condition gradually improves: the rhythm of breathing is restored, and suffocation goes away. During an asthma attack, very viscous mucus may also be difficult to cough up.

Pneumonia

With pneumonia of any etiology, the cough becomes wet only on the 3-4th day of the disease.

The nature of the secretion depends on the type of pathology: with viral pneumonia and mycoplasma respiratory infection, patients note the release of a small amount of transparent viscous mucus without pus or blood; bacterial focal pneumonia is characterized by purulent discharge. In case of lobar pneumonia, during a wet cough, “rusty” sputum containing inclusions of blood is released.

Pneumonia begins acutely with severe thoracic pain, tremendous chills, shortness of breath, accompanied by a cough.

In an uncomplicated course, the temperature reaches 38-38.5 ° C; in the case of damage to an entire lobe of the lung, the patient is concerned about high fever and chills.

The duration of a wet cough for more than 3 months indicates the chronic nature of inflammation, which is typical for people with immunodeficiencies. In children, chronic recurrent pneumonia may be a sign of congenital pulmonary hypoplasia.

Complaints of productive cough occur in diseases of the lower respiratory system, both inflammatory and non-inflammatory.

The intensity and frequency of attacks depend on the severity and duration of the disease. Coughing up secretions is typical for the following types of pulmonary pathology:

• Hemosiderosis . In the acute phase, a frequent cough is accompanied by the discharge of red-brown sputum, which is due to the presence of blood and the specific pigment hemosiderin. Patients experience constant weakness, frequent headaches and dizziness, which are caused by concomitant deficiency anemia. Exacerbation of hemosiderosis, in addition to wet coughing, is characterized by intense chest pain, fever, and enlarged liver.
• Echinococcosis . A dry persistent cough, followed by a wet cough with the release of mucus streaked with blood, appears in the 3-5th year of parasitic infestation as a result of pressure on the bronchi and destruction of the lung tissue. When an echinococcal abscess breaks into the bronchial cavity, a cough attack develops sharply. Abundant watery sputum contains inclusions of blood, pus, fragments of cyst membranes, and small daughter capsules. Severe allergic reactions, cyanosis, and asphyxia are possible.

Inflammation of the larynx and trachea

In most cases, these diseases are characterized by the absence of sputum.

However, the appearance of a wet cough is possible during the recovery stage or in certain clinical variants of laryngotracheitis that occurs with damage to the glandular cells of the mucous membrane.

When the process is localized in the larynx and trachea, patients notice a change in the voice - it becomes low and hoarse, the throat is constantly sore or “scratching”, and there is pain when swallowing. With the separation of secretions after cough paroxysm occurs:

• Chronic hyperplastic laryngitis . For this form of inflammation of the larynx, coughing with the release of mucopurulent sputum in the morning for 3 weeks or more without a tendency to recovery is pathognomonic. Before the onset of a wet cough, changes in the timbre of the voice and hoarseness that occurs after a long conversation are noticeable. Complaints of pain and the sensation of a foreign object in the throat are typical.
• Tracheitis . Initially, inflammation of the tracheal mucosa manifests itself as a paroxysmal debilitating cough, which ends with the release of a small amount of viscous mucus. Patients note that cough paroxysms are associated with deep breathing, crying or laughing. After a few days, the volume of secretion increases and it becomes mucopurulent in nature.

Pulmonary edema

The disease often develops as a complication of acute heart failure Source: https://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/symptom/cough/moist, cardiac asthma, but can complicate the course of severe diseases of the respiratory, urinary systems, and other internal organs. A few hours before manifestation, chest tightness or pain is felt, and shortness of breath increases. Then a painful cough and suffocation occur, which forces the patient to rise in bed to ease breathing. A cough attack is accompanied by the release of foamy pink sputum, wheezing, and bluish discoloration of the nasolabial triangle.

Oncological diseases

Lung tumors are distinguished by their oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic course. Severe clinical symptoms are observed only in 10-15% of cases, mainly with central localization of the malignant neoplasm.

For all types of oncological pathology, the first manifestations are nonspecific symptoms of intoxication - causeless weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, and only then cough.

Coughing up sputum may cause:

• Bronchioloalveolar cancer . At first, the disease is characterized by a dry, painful cough, which exhausts the patient, disrupts sleep and performance. A large amount of mucus during a coughing attack is usually released in the case of the mucinous histotype of cancer. In this case, patients complain of intense shortness of breath both during physical exertion and at rest, periodic increases in body temperature, intense pain in the affected part of the chest, and less often in the chest.
• Bronchial carcinoid . A severe dry cough, which becomes productive after a while, is one of the early symptoms of a tumor, appearing many years before its detection. Such patients are treated for a long time for suspected chronic bronchitis. In the later stages of the process, a productive cough is accompanied by hemoptysis, difficulty exhaling with tension in the intercostal and cervical muscles, which makes it possible to suspect carcinoid.
• Squamous cell carcinoma . The classic triad of early signs of a tumor are painful cough paroxysms, moderate thoracalgia, and shortness of breath on exertion. A cough with the release of a large amount of viscous mucopurulent secretion often develops as a result of complications of cancer with obstructive pneumonia when the tumor is localized in a large bronchus. In half of patients with central cancer, hemoptysis is detected, which can provoke pulmonary hemorrhage.

Survey

A prolonged productive cough is a reason to contact a pulmonologist, who will select the optimal diagnostic plan depending on the general condition and the presence of other complaints. To identify the cause of the symptom, a comprehensive assessment of the morphological and functional characteristics of the respiratory system is carried out. The greatest diagnostic value is:

• X-ray methods . Survey radiography in two projections is prescribed to visualize the structures of the chest and study the condition of the lower respiratory tract. Using X-ray examination, lesions of the bronchi and the lung tissue itself are differentiated. Fluoroscopy is necessary to assess the mobility of the diaphragm.
• Spirography . The functional examination method is used to study the capabilities of the respiratory system and determine the type of external respiration disorder. Spirography is often prescribed for chronic cough with sputum and occupational diseases. During the study, maximum lung volume, forced expiratory volume and other indicators are assessed.
• Endoscopic examination . Examination of the walls of large bronchi during bronchoscopy is the most informative method used to determine the morphological variant of bronchitis, detect indirect signs of inflammation of the lung tissue or the presence of space-occupying neoplasms. According to indications for bronchoscopy, a forceps biopsy is performed for histological examination.
• Bacteriological analysis . Sputum culture is prescribed to detect infectious agents, and an additional study of the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated microflora is carried out. According to indications, a microscopic analysis of discharge from the respiratory tract is performed in order to detect specific cells, crystals, and spiral-shaped accumulations of mucin.

For differential diagnosis between inflammatory and other pathologies of the respiratory system, a general blood test is performed and the concentration of acute phase proteins is determined.

If the infectious nature of a wet cough is suspected, serological tests are prescribed to determine antibodies to pathogenic microorganisms. To clarify the structure of space-occupying formations in the chest cavity, tomography (CT, MRI) is performed.

Inspection of ENT organs is informative: pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy.

Symptomatic therapy

To reduce the frequency of wet cough attacks, you need to avoid sudden changes in temperature and, if possible, limit contact with household chemicals and other irritants.

Regular inhalations with antiseptics and anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain and stimulate the discharge of mucus.

For viscous and thick sputum, expectorants and mucolytics are effective, which help clear the bronchial tree of mucus.

It is prohibited to use specific antitussive drugs, as they cause retention of mucous secretions and pathogenic microorganisms in the respiratory tract, which prolongs the recovery period.

An increase in the volume or a change in the nature of the secretion, frequent coughing attacks leading to insomnia are indications for a visit to a doctor, who will find out the cause of the wet cough and prescribe etiotropic treatment.

If hemoptysis develops and pink, frothy sputum appears, emergency medical attention is required.

Source: https://www.KrasotaiMedicina.ru/symptom/cough/moist