Cough
Cough is an involuntary reflex. It is not an illness, but rather a protective reflex. The reflex occurs when the membranous lining of the respiratory tract secrete excessive mucous which protects the airway from infections. This mucous collects and traps all the foreign particles which enter the airway. Coughing helps us get rid our throats of this mucous. This enables us to keep our airways open and also prevent further infections like pneumonia which can occur.
Types of Cough
Cough can be classified on the basis of the duration for which they last and also the content of the sputum they produce.
Duration of Cough
A cough can come and go quickly or it can last for several days if you have a cold, or it can be persistent and chronic, as in the case of chronic bronchitis.
Sputum production
Based on this, there are two types, the dry cough or the cough where the sputum lining the respiratory passage comes out and the wet cough.
Coughing being mostly involuntary can also be voluntary. In addition, some people cough more often than others because individuals vary in the amount of irritation they can tolerate.
Symptoms of Cough
The main symptom is involuntary coughing. It could be accompanied by other symptoms like fever, difficulty in swallowing, throat ache, pain in the ribs etc. More important than the cough itself, are aspects of it that provide clues to its causes:
Types of Cough
Cough can be classified on the basis of the duration for which they last and also the content of the sputum they produce.
Duration of Cough
A cough can come and go quickly or it can last for several days if you have a cold, or it can be persistent and chronic, as in the case of chronic bronchitis.
Sputum production
Based on this, there are two types, the dry cough or the cough where the sputum lining the respiratory passage comes out and the wet cough.
Coughing being mostly involuntary can also be voluntary. In addition, some people cough more often than others because individuals vary in the amount of irritation they can tolerate.
Symptoms of Cough
The main symptom is involuntary coughing. It could be accompanied by other symptoms like fever, difficulty in swallowing, throat ache, pain in the ribs etc. More important than the cough itself, are aspects of it that provide clues to its causes:
- Frequency and duration of the cough.
- Type of material being coughed up (mucus or phlegm, blood).
- Colour of the sputum (white, clear, green, yellow, pink, blood–specked).
- Consistency of the material coughed up (thick, thin, frothy).
- Presence or absence of accompanying pain.
Causes & Diagnosis of Cough
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The main cause is anything that irritates the respiratory passage. Maybe, a small particle of food to a micro–organism. Also irritant odors and smoke cause excess sputum production which then leads to cough.
A harsh or forceful cough can itself be an irritant. Coughing causes the airways to contract, repeated contractions lead to irritation of the upper airways, and this prolongs the cough.
A dry, non–productive cough can be a side–effect of drugs prescribed for other ailments.
A chronic, persistent cough should always be considered abnormal. The cough may be caused by smoking, allergies, asthma or chronic bronchitis, but it may also be an indication of emphysema, tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Diagnostic Procedures for Cough
Any persistent cough may be a symptom of an underlying illness. Your doctor will make the diagnosis based on the frequency, duration and severity of the cough, breathing difficulties, the type of material being coughed up (the color and consistency of the mucus or blood), and the presence and location of any accompanying pain, swelling or rash. The doctor may wish to obtain a chest X–ray and a sputum specimen to test for infection. Although some of the chronic, obstructive lung diseases in which coughing may be a symptom are incurable (emphysema, some types of lung cancer and occupation–related lung diseases for example), most are treatable.
Sinusitis
A productive cough in which the color of the sputum changes from white (which is normal) to yellow or green may signal infection.
Pneumonia
A cough that produces blood – or pink, yellow or rust–colored mucus – accompanied by chest pains, headache, fever and difficulty in breathing.
Measles or German measles
If you have a hacking cough along with a pink rash, muscle aches, fever and red eyes.
Cough
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