Of course, frequency, cause, and whether the cough goes away on its own are important. Its function is to clear the respiratory tract. Sometimes it also appears as a result of temporary irritation. It is a frequent companion of viral infections. Sometimes it lasts from a few days to even weeks, which in the latter case means a chronic cough that requires a visit to the doctor.
In short, coughing is a physiological defense reflex. Thanks to it, the body cleanses the respiratory system. It is divided into acute (lasting up to 3 weeks) and chronic (8 weeks). During a normal infection, it lasts only 7 to 9 days. The type of cough is also important. Dry means unproductive, characterized by a feeling of irritation of the trachea. The coughing sound then resembles barking and does not cause expectoration, which makes it more tiring than the wet variety. It can be both a signal of the beginning of a cold (then it turns wet after 2-3 days), but also an indication of asthma or allergies. It is also sometimes associated with heart failure.
Wet it’s a productive cough. It is accompanied by sticky discharge, yellow or white in color. This type of cough is definitely helpful in fighting infection, because it removes secretions from the throat, larynx and trachea with dead and live microorganisms that are the cause of the disease. In the treatment of this type of cough, preparations that thin and facilitate expectoration are useful.
However, be careful – a long-lasting cough can be cause for concern. Potentially dangerous diseases associated with coughing include:
- Acute bronchiolitis – occurs mainly in infants. It is a viral infection that is characterized by a cough, secretions in the respiratory tract and severe shortness of breath. In some cases, this leads to respiratory failure. Then, unfortunately, treatment in the intensive care unit is necessary.
- Acute subglottic laryngitis This disease affects children between the ages of two and six. They are caused by viruses that cause a strong, barking cough (most often manifested at night) and respiratory dyspnea (difficulty in breathing). In most cases, medical intervention or even hospitalization is needed.
- Pneumonia – a popular infection, and at the same time the most feared. Its symptoms are mainly cough, fever, sometimes chest pain or shortness of breath. In this case, medical intervention is also necessary. The specialist will then determine whether there are characteristic auscultatory changes, but sometimes it is necessary to perform a radiological examination of the chest.
- Acute bronchitis – finding when we are dealing with intense cough and expiratory dyspnea. The child then breathes rapidly, the inhalation phase is prolonged and wheezing. He is also often unable to utter a complete sentence in one breath. Children with allergies usually suffer from them.
- Whooping cough It is caused by whooping cough. It is an acute bacterial disease of the respiratory tract, the leading symptom of which is cough. Although whooping cough vaccination is mandatory, the occurrence of this disease is still frequently reported. It can occur in children of any age, but infants are most at risk from the first 3 months of birth. The cough is very troublesome, rumbling and paroxysmal, the patient’s inhalation resembles the crowing of a rooster. It can even lead to vomiting and facial bruising. It is treated with antibiotics, but often persists for several months.