Causes of wet cough

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Wet cough in children. Treatment of wet cough

About wet cough

Among the most common reasons for seeking medical help in the autumn and winter, the leading place is occupied by a wet cough.

Table of contents:

Cough is a protective reflex that occurs in response to mechanical or chemical irritation of the lower respiratory tract and laryngeal receptors. A wet cough can be a symptom of one of the serious diseases such as: allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer, congestive heart failure.

Doctors call a wet or moist cough a certain concept - “productive”, since with a wet cough there is a result - mucus from the bronchi moves out. The human body begins to independently cope with the cleansing of phlegm - this is how the healing process is carried out.

A wet cough accompanies respiratory tract infections such as acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. Sometimes it happens that with an allergic rhinitis, a wet cough appears as a response to mucus that gets from the nose into the larynx. Sputum can form during bronchitis and pneumonia. All diseases associated with the formation of a wet cough require competent, comprehensive and effective treatment.

Causes of wet cough

A wet cough appears only in diseases of the respiratory system, acting as a consequence of increased formation of bronchial secretions (with bronchial asthma and bronchitis), sweating of blood plasma from the vessels into the lungs (pulmonary edema), separation of purulent contents from the cavity (lung abscess, cavernous tuberculosis, bronchiectasis disease).

A wet cough is also called productive, as it frees the lungs from pathological contents. The type of sputum can be used to judge the nature of the disease that caused the wet cough. Glassy sputum is very similar to transparent casts from the bronchi and is secreted in bronchial asthma; sputum, which looks like rust, is discharged during pneumonia; purulent with a foul odor - with a lung abscess or bronchiectasis.

For a wet cough, antitussive drugs should not be prescribed.

Symptoms of a wet cough

Often, a wet cough is perceived as a symptom, because it accompanies a large number of diseases associated with the respiratory system. A wet cough, as a symptom, appears quite often in diseases of the bronchi and lungs in general (influenza, tuberculosis, acute respiratory infections, acute bronchitis). A wet cough also accompanies people who smoke.

A wet cough has another name - “productive”, since the composition of the sputum can tell us what exactly is happening in the respiratory tract. In diseases such as influenza, the sputum remains transparent and light in color, but in advanced bronchitis, the sputum contains purulent exudate.

A disease such as pneumonia is often marked by sputum streaked with blood, and with tuberculosis bleeding may occur. For this very reason, if you find yourself coughing up blood, then immediately consult a specialist doctor for help. The composition of sputum helps to diagnose and establish the condition of the disease.

It should be noted that a wet cough is much easier to tolerate, in contrast to a dry cough, provided that the sputum does not contain a viscous consistency.

Wet cough in children

Parents should be wary of a wet cough in children if it is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • The cough is sudden and persistent;
  • Shortness of breath appears;
  • Increased body temperature, for three days does not drop below 38 degrees;
  • The child completely refuses to eat;
  • Chest pain;
  • Cough with wheezing, audible at a distance;
  • Cough with blood elements;
  • Cough with green sputum;
  • Cough that developed against the background of ARVI, lasting more than 20 days;
  • A persistent wet cough that lasts for weeks or months.

In such cases, effective treatment of the disease that caused the wet cough is necessary. An urgent call to a specialist doctor, even with minor signs of illness, is necessary for all children under 1 year of age, as well as for children with severe chronic illnesses.

Treatment of wet cough

The choice of a treatment plan for a wet cough at the ENT-Asthma clinic, as well as the selection of medications for use by medical specialists in general, largely depends on the reasons that provoked the appearance of the cough. For colds, our experienced medical specialists with many years of experience prescribe medications that improve sputum discharge, in other words, turn an unproductive dry cough into a wet one.

For painful, unproductive and prolonged attacks, our specialist doctors can resort to treating wet cough using a set of procedures that block the cough reflex. Since a wet cough is only a symptom and not an independent disease, the most important thing is to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate and effective treatment for the underlying disease in the shortest possible time.

Videos and publications about cough

Interview about cough on the TDK channel

On January 11, 2012, the chief physician of the clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences A.S. Puryasev was invited to the TDK TV channel where he took part in the program “Our Children” dedicated to cough. By watching the full recording of the program on our website, you will learn about the causes of cough, possible complications and proper treatment of diseases of which cough is a symptom.

Make an appointment for a consultation about wet cough

Questions from users on our website about wet cough

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Chief Physician of the Clinic: Don’t invent allergies. Now it is fashionable, exaggerated, but not correct. You need to look at the child and understand the examination plan based on the signs of illness. After this, diagnose and treat efficiently and effectively. There may be an allergy, but another reason is more likely. I think that if you contact our clinic, we will definitely help your child.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, chief physician of the clinic: Oh, it’s hard to figure it out right away: it hurts everywhere and all at once! In this case, you need to be hospitalized and undergo a full inpatient examination!

Doctor of Medical Sciences, chief physician of the clinic: yes, of course. It's Bronchitis! And don’t listen to pediatricians who tell you tales about how snot flows down the back of your throat and causes a cough. That's bullshit. Children swallow snot, but do not cough it out. This is widespread stupidity. There are no cough receptors in the throat. Cough comes from the bronchi with bronchitis.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Chief Physician of the Clinic: Hello. You definitely need to take a swab from the throat and nose, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach, do not drink or eat, and do not even brush your teeth with an antibitocogram. but remember the bioavailability of the antibiotic in inflamed tissue is only 6%, i.e. It (AB) penetrates poorly into the source of inflammation, which is why it does not cure you. For a good result, local treatment and sanitation of the lesion are necessary.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, chief physician of the clinic: first, drink ACC for 10 days. If it doesn’t help, think about diagnosis, because this symptom is a sign of bronchitis.

Ask your question about wet cough

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We treat wet cough quickly and effectively

With the help of a wet cough, the body gets rid of infection in the respiratory system. Sputum production is a way of removing bacteria from the larynx, bronchi and lungs, so such a cough is only a sign of the disease. What are the ways of occurrence of the disease and how to treat a wet cough?

Types of disease symptoms

Treatment of wet cough in adults involves determining its type. Based on the duration of the illness, the following types are distinguished:

1. Spicy. Occurs as a symptom of an infectious disease, due to the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract or inhalation of chemicals and toxic substances. Duration – no more than 3 weeks.

2. Chronic. The causes of this type of cough include diseases of the lungs and bronchi, accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract. This cough lasts for 3 weeks.

After determining the type, the causes of the ailment are identified - this helps to understand how to treat a wet cough.

Reasons for appearance

Treatment of a wet cough should begin with the correct identification of the causes that provoked it. The presence of a cough reflex is a sign of the development of several diseases - both easily treatable and more serious pathologies.

Among the causes of wet cough in adults are the following diseases:

1. Acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections are the most common causes of bacteria and sputum in the body.

2. Sinusitis, rhinitis, sinusitis. These pathologies are indicated by coughing at night or after waking up.

3. Bronchitis, pneumonia. Bronchial secretions help the body get rid of bacteria. If you treat bronchitis correctly, preventing the disease from developing into a more severe form, then the cough will go away along with bronchitis.

4. Allergic reaction. Coughing with sputum is a common occurrence when allergens - organic or chemical substances that cause inflammation - enter the respiratory tract. Allergic processes can also be seasonal, and it is very important to distinguish them from ARVI.

5. Pulmonary edema, in which blood plasma enters the alveoli.

6. Heart failure. Coughing with sputum is a common occurrence when the heart muscle is not functioning properly.

7. Whooping cough. With this disease, the cough syndrome is protracted, paroxysmal in nature.

8. Tuberculosis. This pathology is accompanied by the presence of droplets of blood in the sputum, noticeable when coughing.

9. Hypothermia. In this situation, the patient suffers from increased body temperature.

10. Unfavorable production conditions. Dust and particles of harmful substances can enter the respiratory tract, and with the help of protective equipment it is not always possible to avoid cough syndrome.

As a rule, only a doctor can determine the nature of the occurrence and properly treat a wet cough. Medical assistance is especially important in cases where cough syndrome due to acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections lasts longer than two weeks - perhaps it is a sign of a more serious illness.

Symptoms of a dangerous situation

There are a number of signs by which it can be determined that a patient requires urgent consultation with a specialist. The situation becomes dangerous in the following cases:

· a temperature of 37.5-38 ºС lasts longer than a week, and 38 ºС lasts longer than three days;

· the patient loses weight, sweats profusely, complains of lack of appetite;

· attacks occur suddenly and do not go away for more than an hour;

· sputum becomes more viscous and abundant;

· blood and pus are observed in the mucus.

At the clinic, the patient will be sent for tests, which will help determine the possible causes of the pathology and its severity. The examination also includes fluorography and listening to the respiratory system for the presence of wheezing. Additionally, a laryngeal swab may be taken from the patient.

Treatment of pathology

After identifying the causes, you should begin to get rid of the symptom of the disease. There are different methods of treatment - from modern medications to traditional time-tested recipes. How to cure a wet cough so that the disease does not bother you again and again?

Traditional methods

Traditional methods familiar from childhood are becoming less popular, but this does not make them lose their effectiveness. The most effective remedies for cough syndrome include mustard plasters and jars. Mustard plasters are used to treat wet coughs without fever, as this method contributes to even greater heating of the body. Also contraindications are increased sensitivity of the body, tumors, asthma, psoriasis.

Mustard plasters should be moistened in warm (40-45°) water and applied to the sternum area just below the shoulder blades and mammary glands. Place a towel on top and cover the patient with a blanket. To treat a wet cough in adults, it is recommended to hold mustard plasters for no more than 15 minutes, in children - no more than 7 minutes. After the procedure, the skin should be dried with a towel and the patient should be wrapped again.

Another effective procedure that can be used to treat a cough without fever is cupping. When using glass jars, you need to deal with fire. A modern analogue of traditional cans is vacuum cans. They can be placed with a simple touch of the hand.

The procedure is carried out as follows:

1. Banks are inspected for integrity and those that are cracked or have other defects are removed.

2. Wash jars with hot water and soap.

3. The patient is placed stomach down on a hard surface and his back is lubricated with cream.

4. Roll cotton wool onto a metal knitting needle, moisten it with alcohol, shake it and set it on fire.

5. Place a burning needle inside the medical jar for 2 seconds.

6. The jar is placed on the back.

7. After placing all the cans, the patient is wrapped in a warm blanket.

8. Remove the jar by slightly tilting it to the side - this will help let air inside and remove the jar.

The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.

Attention! Placing cups on the spine area is strictly contraindicated.

Also contraindications to the use of cups are fever, tuberculosis, oncology and infectious skin diseases.

Drug treatment

Adherents of medications can also find a suitable way to stop the cough. Treatment of the “productive” form of the disease is carried out with the help of expectorants and sputum thinners. Therefore, treating wet coughs with drugs for dry coughs is contraindicated: they interfere with the cough reflex and do not allow mucus to leave the respiratory tract. Such treatment is useless: phlegm and bacteria are retained in the body, which means that inflammation will only progress.

It is useful to use products that include the following herbal substances:

The pharmacy should clarify for what type of cough the product will be used. Mucolytic drugs are medications that thin and remove mucus. This category of medicines includes:

These remedies are used if the sputum is viscous and thick. If the bronchial secretion is liquid, then it is necessary to remove it from the respiratory tract. To do this, expectorants are used:

· Sodium bicarbonate solution or powder;

Most of the above drugs are presented in different forms - tablets, ointments, syrups.

There are expectorants based on herbal components, which also contain synthetic substances. Many drugs combine the properties of both mucolytic and expectorant agents, due to which they have a dual effect. It is also useful to treat wet cough in adults with the help of homeopathic ointments - the composition applied to the skin penetrates the blood, warming and healing the body.

Folk recipes

Traditional medicine is also an excellent remedy for wet coughs in adults. Recipes proven by more than one generation can cure a cough at home. At the same time, folk remedies for wet cough will cost minimal costs.

The ailment can be cured using the following recipes:

1. The most popular and familiar method: mix hot milk with honey and butter. You can also boil an onion and a clove of garlic in milk, remove them and add a spoonful of honey. You need to drink this product 1 tbsp. each hour.

2. Boil 1-2 figs in 200 ml of milk for minutes. Take the decoction hot 2 times a day.

3. Pour 2 tsp. flaxseeds 250 ml water. Cook for 10 minutes. Add honey and drink throughout the day.

The following herbal decoctions and infusions will help get rid of phlegm:

1. Plantain decoction - take 1/3 cup 3 times a day, minutes before meals.

2. Take chamomile decoction orally after meals - this plant has an anti-inflammatory effect and a calming effect.

3. 1 tbsp. sage pour 250 ml of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes, strain and add a little honey. Drink the product warm about 4 times a day.

4. Pour a mixture of half a glass of birch buds with a glass of linden blossom with a glass of water and cook for about 5 minutes. Strain the product, cool, add 1 tsp. honey. Drink during the day in 4 doses.

A wet cough in an adult can be eliminated using regular onions and garlic. They need to be cut and inhaled several times a day.

Inhaling potato vapors will also help get rid of mucus - they soften and moisturize the mucus. The pot of potatoes should be wrapped in a towel, and the patient should be covered with a blanket. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes.

Traditional medicine is a good addition to basic treatment. When using her methods, it is important to be especially attentive to your health. If the condition worsens, then more serious measures need to be taken.

Prevention: How to Stay Healthy

Remedies for wet coughs are very diverse and effective. However, it is important to remember that in order to prevent the occurrence of an unpleasant illness, you should follow simple preventive measures:

1. Ventilate the room more often. If the cough has already begun, then dry and hot air will only contribute to the stagnation of mucus.

2. Quit smoking and avoid passive inhalation of tobacco smoke.

3. Regularly carry out wet cleaning.

4. Dress for the weather and avoid hypothermia.

5. Be careful during seasonal epidemics - avoid long stays in crowded places.

In any case, patients are not recommended to self-medicate, especially if the illness becomes more and more serious. A harmless and common cough reflex can be a symptom of serious illnesses. A specialist should choose the right treatment strategy and determine how to treat a wet cough.

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Wet expectorant cough: symptoms, causes

A wet cough is a reflex action that is accompanied by expectoration of sputum. It may be preceded by a dry involuntary act that appears due to a cold or hypothermia. By the way, it is quite enough for a child to simply breathe in the frosty air. A strong expectorant cough does not always bring relief to a person after clearing the throat. Here everything depends on the nature and duration of the jerking act.

There are a significant number of varieties of wet reflex action. An involuntary act may be characterized by the presence of the following significant symptoms:

  • The type of sputum produced.
  • Duration of cough.
  • Is it chronic and other properties.

It is necessary to accurately determine the cause of the expectorant involuntary act, since the effectiveness of its treatment directly depends on this. An analysis of the existing symptoms will help determine exactly what caused the reflex action. Moreover, it is necessary to consider not only those of them that are present at the moment. It is necessary to take into account the etiology of the development of the disease, that is, how external signs have changed over time.

Causes of wet cough

An involuntary act of sputum production may indicate not only the presence of any diseases, but also indicate normal functioning of the respiratory system. In both cases, mucus discharge may occur. However, in a healthy person its volume is much lower. A severe wet cough can be caused by various reasons:

  • Natural in nature - when air is inhaled, tiny particles of dust, insect chitin, and harmful emissions enter the bronchi and lungs. The body gets rid of them, which causes a slight productive cough.
  • Exposure to pathogens. This group includes all types of expectorant cough, which can be caused by various pathogens. They are divided into the following types according to the type of pathogens: bacterial, viral, ornithosis, rickettsial, mycoplasma, fungal, allergic, infectious-allergic, mixed, of unknown etiology.
  • Foreign bodies entering the respiratory tract. Most often, this cause of severe wet cough is observed in young children. In addition to the secretion of mucus, as a rule, there is a painful sensation in the throat.

Regardless of the exact reason that provoked the appearance of a wet cough, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. Even if its origin is natural, you should not refuse a full examination and testing.

Symptoms of a wet cough

The main symptom of a strong wet cough is the release of mucus during a reflex action. However, this is far from the only external manifestation of an involuntary act. The presence of the following accompanying symptoms indicates severe illness:

  • Frequent, prolonged chesty wet cough accompanies ailments such as bronchitis and pneumonia. It must be taken into account that these diseases arise due to exposure to various types of pathogens. Depending on their type, drug therapy is prescribed. After stopping the medication, the wet cough does not go away. It can last quite a long time - 2 or 3 weeks.
  • If there is chest pain with a persistent, strong wet cough, this may indicate the presence of ailments such as pulmonary embolism, severe tuberculosis, or pericarditis. With such diseases, the involuntary act lasts a long time and has a paroxysmal character.
  • A strong raw reflex action, accompanied by a runny nose, is the first sign not only of influenza, ARVI or a common cold, but also of an allergy to dust, dog hair, insect chitin, plant pollen and other pathogens. The external manifestations in both cases are almost the same and it is very difficult to identify a specific disease: the person coughs heavily, white pieces may be coughed up, a sore throat may be observed, and there is snot.
  • Severe wet cough that appears while lying down, and only on one side and when turning, it disappears. There may be blood in the sputum. This symptom is characteristic of unilateral bronchiectasis. This is a chronic illness. Its aggravation occurs in the off-season.
  • Simultaneous discharge of a significant volume of sputum “mouth full” is a sign of emptying of a lung abscess. As a rule, such a symptom is observed only in a certain position of the body. Most often at night or in the morning, when the person’s body is in a horizontal position for a long time.
  • A persistent, lingering, wet cough is a sure sign of a certain chronic disease. Usually, in people with similar ailments, a symptom such as coughing may not go away for a month or more, in addition, an increase in temperature is observed. After taking antitussive medications, relief occurs. However, this effect does not last long.

It turns out that although sputum production is observed during any productive reflex act, it is imperative to accurately analyze the accompanying visible signs. A wet cough can be a symptom of serious illness, and not a common cold or acute respiratory viral infection. To establish the correct diagnosis, in some cases it is necessary not only to be examined by a specialist, but also to undergo specific tests.

Types of mucus with a wet cough

A productive involuntary act is carried out with expectoration of sputum. Based on its consistency, color, and volume, the doctor is able to make a preliminary diagnosis. Doctors now identify several types of mucus produced during a wet cough:

  • Green - indicates the presence of pus and streaks of blood. As a rule, in this case the reflex action is accompanied by wheezing, high fever, and shortness of breath.
  • Brown – this color indicates the presence of blood in the sputum.
  • Transparent - present in cases where the natural cleaning function of the respiratory system does not work properly.
  • White mucus with lumps - occurs with pneumonia, the development of which is caused by the influence of a fungus.
  • Yellow sputum is released when smokers and hookah lovers cough. There is another reason why mucus of this color may form - the onset of bronchitis or pneumonia. It is worth noting that yellow sputum may contain blood.
  • Foamy - occurs with chronic bronchitis, cardiac asthma, pulmonary edema.
  • Rusty - lobar pneumonia.
  • Bloody mucus is secreted during tuberculosis and neoplasms of the respiratory tract, bronchiectasis.

Sputum analysis is one of the most important studies in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. It is on this basis that medical conclusions are made.

Wet cough: age characteristics

If in adults a wet cough, as a rule, appears due to colds or viral diseases, then in children and the elderly it can begin due to many other reasons. That is why doctors pay close attention to the occurrence of an expectorant reflex act in children and old people. In children, involuntary action can be provoked by the following reasons:

  • Presence of snot. If you put drops in your child’s nose, the raw, frequent cough will stop.
  • Teething. This physiological process is accompanied by copious secretion of saliva, which irritates the cough receptors.
  • Milk getting into the wrong throat.

In old age, constant involuntary action occurs due to the influence of the following factors:

  • Age-related changes in the body. They are accompanied by significant discharge of clear mucus. The reason for this is the loss of the respiratory tract's natural ability to cleanse itself.
  • The accumulation of mucus in the lungs leads to the development of emphysema.
  • Chronic bronchitis, the cause of which is a significant impairment of pulmonary ventilation. Severe shortness of breath is observed, and cyanosis develops due to difficulty in exhalation.

Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of wet cough in older people. The main difference between a long-term involuntary act caused by age-related changes in the body and one provoked by exposure to pathogens is the absence of leukocytosis. That is, the number of leukocytes in the blood is almost normal.

Source: http://pro-kashel.ru/vidy-i-tipy-kashlya/mokryy-kashel

Moist cough

Cough is one of the most common pathological symptoms that significantly impairs the quality of life. However, it is worth knowing that there are quite a large number of clinical conditions that may be accompanied by this symptom. Because of this, you should not try to treat yourself, but rather seek help from a specialist.

A few words about cough mechanisms

The described symptom is a kind of protection of the bronchial tree from penetration of harmful particles and microorganisms into the underlying parts of the lungs. It occurs when the mucous membrane is irritated, especially in the areas of branching of the bronchial tree.

Where does phlegm come from?

Under normal conditions, mucus is always produced in the bronchi, which is needed to cleanse the airways. Then it rises upward with the help of the cilia of the epithelium. Normally, its quantity is small and it is swallowed along with saliva.

However, during inflammatory processes, the volume of mucus increases significantly, which is associated with irritation of the so-called. goblet cells. In addition, the associated inflammatory process leads to the fact that the cells of the immune system absorb microorganisms, thereby forming pus. When coughing, liquid is expectorated, the nature of which can be used to judge the characteristics of the inflammatory process in the bronchial tree.

What is a wet cough?

Let us remind you that there are two main types of cough: dry and wet. The latter occurs with the release of sputum. Moreover, it can be easily or difficultly separated. The amount of sputum may also vary depending on the pathological process.

What pathologies are accompanied by a wet cough?

Bronchiectasis (BED) is a disease that is caused by malformations of the bronchi, as a result of which their wall becomes thinner and protrusions, like bubbles, form in it. Over time, an inflammatory process develops in them, which quite often becomes purulent in nature. The cough in this pathology is chronic and occurs in the morning, which is associated with an increase in physical activity and an improvement in the drainage function of the bronchial tree. If bronchiectasis affects predominantly one half of the bronchial tree, then the cough may worsen in the side position. In addition to the described symptom, the patient may be bothered by shortness of breath, the severity of which is proportional to the extent of the pathological process. With severe purulent inflammation, body temperature rises and symptoms of intoxication occur. EBD mainly affects young people. Over time, the lung tissue stretches and emphysema forms (i.e., the lungs seem to be constantly in the position of maximum inspiration).

Bronchitis is a pathology caused by an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the bronchi, mainly of large or medium caliber. Most often, a wet cough is characteristic of the infectious form of the disease. In the acute period of bronchitis, the body temperature rises, the cough is initially dry, and then gradually becomes wet. The nature of the sputum also changes: from mucous to purulent. If a person has an allergic mood, then the cough can occur in paroxysms, and it is extremely difficult to clear sputum. It is enhanced by inhalation of cold air, physical activity, and the use of medications with a mucolytic effect. If the cough is too persistent, chest pain may appear. Shortness of breath is not typical for bronchitis; its occurrence indicates the existence of some additional pathology. With smoker's bronchitis, cough bothers patients mainly in the morning, and expectoration of sputum is difficult. A similar problem arises after regular tobacco use. It is worth emphasizing that a similar effect occurs from a hookah. If bronchitis persists for a long time, emphysema may accompany it; in such cases, they speak of chronic nonspecific lung disease.

The most common cause of productive cough by far is pneumonia . In this case, the described symptom can be characterized as follows: it appears after hypothermia and at first is episodic in nature, and sputum may not be produced. Then the depth and intensity of the cough increases, it becomes mucous, and subsequently purulent. After 3-4 days from the onset of the disease, the nature of the sputum changes and it acquires a rusty tint. This is due to increased fragility and permeability of capillaries, due to which red blood cells leave the vascular bed. When an inflammatory process occurs in the pleura, pain appears on the affected side, and it intensifies with deep breathing or coughing, and is relieved by lying on the affected side. An important fact is that cough with pneumonia can persist for quite a long time after the disease has stopped. It is frequent, persistent, with the release of a small amount of sputum, which is quite difficult to cough up.

Bronchial asthma . Despite the fact that the production of sputum in this disease is quite difficult, many pulmonologists still classify cough in the described disease as productive. It has the following characteristics: it occurs in the form of prolonged attacks, most often after contact with any allergen. During them, the patient may develop a fear of suffocation, the face turns blue, and the veins in the neck swell. Also, the described disease is extremely characterized by nightly coughing attacks, after which a small amount of thick (jelly-like density) transparent sputum is released, the amount of which is very small. Another important symptom is also characteristic of a cough attack: if you bring a burning candle to the patient’s mouth and ask him to blow it out, he cannot do this. Cough in bronchial asthma is relieved only after using special inhalers containing hormones and/or bronchodilators. The use of any sputum thinners is completely ineffective. Mostly children and young people suffer from bronchial asthma. In the future, the disease can progress and lead to significant deformations of the bronchial tree.

Lungs' cancer . Previously, it was believed that this pathology is almost always the lot of heavy smokers, but due to the deteriorating environmental situation, people who have never held a cigarette in their mouth also suffer from it. Cough appears at fairly late stages of the described pathological process, when the tumor formation stretches the bronchial wall. In this case, the described symptom can be characterized as follows: the cough is constant, does not depend on the position of the body, and occurs in the form of coughing. Quite often, streaks of blood are found in the sputum. There is also a special form of lung cancer in which the cough is combined with pain in the shoulder and a change in the shape of the pupil on the affected side (it becomes narrower). In some cases, a focus of pneumonia may appear around the cancerous tumor, which is quite difficult to cure. In order to confirm the connection of cough with the tumor process, it is necessary to perform a CT scan, as well as sputum examination for the presence of atypical cells. The disease is most common in older people, mainly men. The tumor cause of cough should be considered in all cases where this symptom persists for several years and does not respond to drug therapy. The absence of changes on the x-ray does not exclude the existence of a tumor problem in the bronchi in the patient.

Abscess, as well as gangrene of the lungs . Both of these pathological conditions are extremely dangerous. Lung abscess may be a consequence of pneumonia. It is a purulent cavity that is located in the lung tissue. During the period of its formation, the cough may be absent altogether, when it reaches a certain size or breaks into the bronchus, the patient suddenly feels an acute attack of cough, during which purulent sputum is released as if “a mouthful”. After this, the condition improves significantly, body temperature decreases, and signs of intoxication completely disappear. With gangrene of the lungs, the sputum contains pieces that resemble meat in appearance, which is associated with the destruction of lung tissue. In addition, the discharge of the bronchial tree has an extremely unpleasant odor, which is felt by the patient himself. Both of these pathological conditions require treatment in a hospital setting due to the high risk of life-threatening conditions.

Tuberculosis . If previously it was believed that this pathology is the lot of representatives of the lower strata of society, then it must be said that today this disease mainly affects the socially secure segments of the population. Its insidiousness is that, contrary to popular belief, a cough does not appear immediately. By its nature, it is productive with the release of a small volume of mucopurulent or simply mucous sputum. The cough occurs periodically and is accompanied by profuse sweating, as well as an increase in temperature at night. A pronounced blush often appears on the patient’s cheeks, and body weight decreases within a short period of time. The connection between cough and tuberculosis can be confirmed on the basis of the following studies: chest x-ray (if necessary, in two projections), CT, as well as triple culture of sputum on special media that can identify the causative agent of tuberculosis. Treatment of cough for this disease is a rather lengthy process, which is carried out with the participation of phthisiatricians in a specialized medical institution.

A foreign body that has persisted in the lower respiratory tract for a long time. Most often, cough with this pathology occurs in children and is paroxysmal in nature, depending on the position of the child’s body. When inhaling a foreign object, especially if it is small in size, there may be no cough, which is due to the entry of a small particle into the bronchi with a small caliber. As the foreign body remains in the respiratory tract, a focus of purulent inflammation forms around it, and the cough becomes wet, with sputum released in a small volume. Diagnosis of such a cause of cough is quite difficult, since it is often not possible to collect a history of the disease in a young patient. In addition, a foreign object is difficult to detect during conventional lung radiography, as well as CT. In the latter case, contrast may sometimes be required. The connection between cough and aspiration of a small object can be definitively confirmed only by bronchoscopy, however, performing this procedure in a small child is often quite problematic. Removing the foreign object allows you to completely get rid of the cough.

Cystic fibrosis is a relatively rare pathology that is caused by a deficiency of certain enzymes necessary for the proper functioning of both internal and external secretion glands. In this case, a cough appears in a child from the first years of life and is characterized by the release of a small amount of viscous sputum. It occurs evenly throughout the day and does not respond to any therapy with mucolytic drugs. The sputum is clear. In most cases, cystic fibrosis, in addition to cough, is the cause of other pathological conditions, for example, chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosis of the described disease is carried out in the maternity hospital, so the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis can be established from the first days of life.

One of the causes of wet cough in adults is the so-called pneumoconiosis - a special form of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree, caused by the deposition of dust particles on it. The cough appears after several years of working in hazardous industries and is permanent. Miners' sputum turns black. The important fact is that even after cessation of occupational contact with irritants, a wet cough still persists throughout life. The most commonly described pathological symptom occurs in people who have been in contact with asbestos, cement, and coal dust. To confirm the professional nature of the cough, microscopy of the sputum is performed, and dust particles are detected in it.

Another cause of cough, which is characterized by sputum production, is thrombosis of the main branch (or branches) of the pulmonary artery (PE) . In this case, the cough appears suddenly and contains a significant admixture of blood. Blood pressure drops rapidly. In most cases, the skin of the upper half of the body turns blue. If blockage of small branches occurs, the cough becomes constant with the release of rusty sputum. This condition is most typical for people in the older age group who suffer from heart pathology. PE can also occur in young women taking oral contraceptives.

Of course, the list of diseases accompanied by a wet cough could be expanded indefinitely. The most common pathological conditions are listed above.

Finally, I would like to add that you should not treat wet cough at home, especially if the problem concerns children or the elderly. Traditional medicine should also be used only with great caution.

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Moist cough

A wet cough acts as a protective reflex mechanism to clear the airways of unpleasant substances. Chemical and physical irritants can include bacteria, dust, toxins, smoke and foreign bodies. In particular, a strong wet cough is characterized by expectoration of sputum.

A wet cough in children and adult patients quite often accompanies the infectious diseases of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. Sometimes it can appear with a runny nose from allergies. Sputum forms in the throat during bronchitis and pneumonia. All diseases in which a wet cough manifests itself require schematic and complete treatment.

Etiology

A cough can develop both due to pathologies and from a simple foreign body getting into the throat. In childhood, every child has coughing attacks several times a day. This is most often due to the ingress of small particles that irritate the mucous membrane. When a child, like an adult, coughs, it expels microparticles that enter the respiratory tract.

A wet cough in a baby is also normal. It can occur with strong salivation when the child is teething. Also, the cause of the appearance of an unpleasant symptom can be the period of feeding, when milk enters the respiratory tract. All these irritating factors cannot be treated, since they are not pathological processes.

Coughing can also indicate negative processes in the body. This symptom is the main one for infectious diseases:

A common runny nose can also be an irritating factor for the appearance of a wet cough, since too much mucus gets into the person’s larynx, which irritates the surface of the pharynx. Knowing all the etiological factors, curing the symptom is not difficult. Patients often self-medicate, which can lead to chronic cough and other symptoms.

Classification

Clinicians have determined that the type of sputum differs depending on the type of illness. If the attending doctor discovers that a child or adult is coughing up clear mucus, this indicates an acute respiratory viral infection. Thanks to the knowledge of doctors, they can determine the disease by the type of sputum. Thus, in medicine, the following types of cough discharge are distinguished:

  • abundant – with tracheitis and acute bronchitis;
  • viscous and thick mucus - with bronchial asthma;
  • a “rusty” tint appears with pneumonia;
  • with an admixture of pus - during a lung abscess, bacterial diseases of the respiratory tract;
  • with an admixture of blood - for tuberculosis and heart failure.

Based on the nature of the disease, doctors divide cough into:

  • acute – lasts for two weeks;
  • recurrent - repeats over four to five weeks;
  • chronic – permanent and lasts more than four weeks.

Symptoms

A person can recognize the disease by the deterioration of his own health, but how can one recognize the inflammatory process in children? An infant or adult child changes dramatically in behavior. The formation of the disease and the appearance of cough can be recognized by the following signs:

  • sudden prolonged coughing;
  • manifestation of shortness of breath;
  • temperature increase;
  • loss of appetite;
  • characteristic wheezing appears;
  • blood in sputum;
  • greenish tint to the discharge;
  • chest pain;
  • severe cough worsens at night, which leads to insomnia;
  • prolonged wet cough for a month.

Several of these symptoms indicate the usual manifestation of ARVI, but the last signs from this list inform a person about the progression of more serious pathologies. In this regard, both children and adults need to monitor all the first signs and symptoms.

A wet cough and fever are accompanying symptoms that indicate the formation of a viral upper respiratory tract infection. At the beginning of the development of the disease, a small or adult patient may feel a high fever that does not subside for several days. A serious signal after which you should consult a doctor is the duration of the cough and high body temperature for more than three days.

Treatment

A wet cough in a child is much more difficult to eliminate than to treat in an adult. Doctors make this conclusion based on the fact that in childhood the sputum appears to have a more viscous structure, and the muscles of the respiratory tract are not sufficiently developed.

Improper cough therapy can lead to serious consequences, as a result of which a large number of bacteria are formed and the disease is complicated. The main goal of drug treatment is to eliminate phlegm.

For this purpose, doctors prescribe the following medications to patients:

  • mucolytic agents - lead to thinning of sputum;
  • expectorants – stimulate the expectoration of mucus.

If purulent sputum appears, the patient is prescribed antibacterial therapy.

The use of antitussive drugs is prohibited, since they do not improve the condition, but aggravate the patient’s condition, as they lead to the accumulation of sputum and its infection with pathogenic bacteria.

Parents are often concerned with the question of how to treat a wet cough in a child without using a large number of drugs. To cope with this symptom in the most gentle way possible, doctors recommend:

  • rubbing the chest and back with massaging movements;
  • steam inhalations based on herbs, soda, essential oils or iodine.

However, it must be taken into account that rubbing and inhalation can only be performed if the patient has normal body temperature.

Inhalations are considered home therapy methods. Their use is often recommended as part of traditional medicine. During such treatment, the patient must adhere to the following safety rules:

  • the liquid for inhalation must be warm;
  • It is forbidden to inhale steam deeply, so as not to burn the lining of the respiratory tract;
  • The duration of the procedure is no more than 10 minutes;
  • inhalation should be carried out an hour after eating;
  • In winter or when it gets cold, it is not advisable for the patient to go outside immediately after the procedure;
  • the use of medications for inhalation without a doctor's prescription is prohibited.

Performing such a procedure is undesirable for people with difficulty breathing, bacterial infection, fever, intoxication, and in the first days of the disease.

Doctors, when choosing how to treat a child’s wet cough, settle on medications and syrups. Inhalation of drugs through a nebulizer can also be used. This allows the medicinal substance to enter directly into the place where sputum accumulates, while the drug does not have a toxic effect on the liver.

A coughing patient must undergo long-term therapy, during which a large number of drugs are taken to relieve various symptoms. However, if the nature of the manifestation changes and other signs appear, then the patient needs to change the treatment regimen and seek the help of specialists. The following cases will be a signal to consult a doctor:

  • sudden onset of cough that does not subside;
  • dyspnea;
  • pain in the chest;
  • the addition of wheezing when breathing;
  • cough with blood in the sputum;
  • cough lasting more than 4 weeks.

If a child has a wet cough without fever, it can be treated with expectorants and substances to thin the sputum.

Sometimes, a cough without a rise in temperature indicates that a chronic process has begun in the body. This phenomenon occurs quite often in the first week after recovery from ARVI.

Often this indicator indicates an allergic reaction or informs about inflammation in the lungs.

In cases of a wet cough due to a foreign body entering the respiratory tract in an adult, it is necessary to apply intense clapping blows between the shoulder blades. If, for the same reason, a child begins to cough, it is necessary to lift him by the legs, so that the head end is down, and carry out patting movements. If the patient’s condition does not improve, but shortness of breath appears or the skin begins to turn pale, you should urgently call an ambulance.

Also, to avoid coughing, the patient needs to create special conditions that alleviate his illness:

  • the room must be kept at an optimal air temperature and cleanliness so that the airways are not “clogged” with excess dust or foreign particles;
  • there should be moderate humidity in the room, doctors even advise increasing this indicator for the duration of the painful condition;
  • Constant consumption of water will reduce the viscosity of sputum;
  • It is not advisable to walk outside with this type of cough;
  • To clear the airways, the patient must be constantly in motion, and not lie in one position under several blankets.

Prevention

To prevent the onset of the disease, you need to follow simple recommendations:

  • drink a lot of water, which helps dilute mucus and remove it faster;
  • ventilate the room;
  • carry out wet cleaning more often;
  • eliminate smoking;
  • reduce the consumption of hot and spicy foods;
  • once a year, do fluorography for adults, and a Mantoux test for children.

But, if a person has the first symptoms of cough and illness, then he needs to see a doctor and start treatment.

“Wet cough” is observed in diseases:

Lung adenocarcinoma (glandular lung cancer) is a non-small cell cancer tumor, diagnosed in 40% of all lung cancers. The main danger of this pathological process is that in most cases it is asymptomatic. Men in the age group are most susceptible to the disease. When treatment is started in a timely manner, it does not cause complications.

Allergic bronchitis is a type of inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. A characteristic feature of the disease is that, unlike ordinary bronchitis, which occurs due to exposure to viruses and bacteria, allergic bronchitis is formed due to prolonged contact with various allergens. This disease is often diagnosed in children of preschool and primary school age. It is for this reason that it needs to be cured as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it takes on a chronic course, which can lead to the development of bronchial asthma.

Pulmonary alveolitis is a pathogenic process during which the alveoli are affected, followed by the formation of fibrosis. With this disorder, the tissue of the organ thickens, which does not allow the lungs to fully function and often leads to oxygen deficiency. Other organs at this time also do not receive full oxygen, which, in turn, disrupts metabolism.

Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammation in the lung tissues that develops as a result of foreign bodies or substances entering the organ. Aspiration can be carried out both by mechanical objects from the outside and by body fluids, for example, stomach contents or amniotic fluid, which is why aspiration pneumonia develops in newborns. When describing this pathology, one should distinguish between aspiration pneumonia in adults and in children, since the causes and mechanisms of harmful effects in these cases are different.

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by short-term attacks of breathlessness caused by spasms in the bronchi and swelling of the mucous membrane. This disease has no specific risk group or age restrictions. But, as medical practice shows, women suffer from asthma 2 times more often. According to official data, today there are more than 300 million people living with asthma in the world. The first symptoms of the disease most often appear in childhood. Elderly people suffer from the disease much more difficult.

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs with certain bacteria, for example, Haemophilus influenzae or pneumococcus, but if other viral diseases are present in the body, this virus can become the causative agent. Accompanied by symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, cough with sputum, pain in the chest area. Diagnosis is possible using x-rays, blood tests and sputum culture. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory disease that affects exclusively the small bronchi (bronchioles). As this disease progresses, the lumen of the bronchioles narrows, which can lead to the development of respiratory failure. If bronchiolitis is not treated in a timely manner, the connective tissue in the bronchioles of various sizes will begin to grow and clog the pulmonary vessels.

Quite often there are cases of people getting bronchitis. This is due to the polluted air that a person inhales. This air contains a large number of viruses and parasitic bacteria, which, when they enter the body, begin to “take root” there and cause painful reflexes. These reflexes are similar in both children and adults, but have varying degrees of severity.

Bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia. This disease differs from ordinary pneumonia in that bacteria and viruses that enter the body affect not only the lungs, but also the branches of the bronchial tree. Often inflammation develops due to infection of the upper respiratory tract. In most cases, bronchial pneumonia is caused by streptococcus and pneumococcus.

Bronchospasm is a pathological condition characterized by the occurrence of a sudden attack of suffocation. It progresses due to reflex compression of smooth muscle structures in the walls of the bronchi, as well as due to swelling of the mucous membrane, accompanied by impaired sputum discharge.

Bronchiectasis is an inflammatory process in the respiratory system. The disease is characterized by pathological changes, expansion or deformation of the bronchi, as a result of which a large amount of pus is formed in them. This distortion of internal organs is called bronchiectasis.

Hemolytic streptococcus is a gram-positive bacterium with a specific shape. Belongs to the lactobacilli family. Often it simultaneously coexists with Staphylococcus aureus. The bacterium can infect the body of any person - both an adult and a small child.

Purulent bronchitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the bronchial tree. This pathological process, most often, is a consequence of acute or chronic forms of bronchitis. However, it is not excluded that such a pathological process can act as an independent disease.

Wegener's granulomatosis is a subtype of systemic necrotizing vasculitis that primarily affects the tissues and vessels of the upper respiratory tract. The main risk group for this pathological process are men and women aged 25 to 40 years. With a generalized form of pathology, the clinical prognosis is extremely unfavorable.

Bilateral pneumonia in an adult or child is a fairly severe pulmonary pathology in which both lungs are affected. The inflammatory process develops due to exposure to bacteria, most often pneumococci, and is very difficult, and complications of this pathology can cause death.

Diffuse pneumosclerosis is a secondary pathology, which is characterized by the proliferation of connective tissue in the lung. Against the background of such a process, a disruption in the functioning of this organ occurs. In the vast majority of situations, the disease develops against the background of tuberculosis or pneumonia, bronchitis or venous stagnation. However, clinicians also identify other predisposing factors.

Pulmonary infarction is a pathological condition that develops as a result of blockage of small or medium-sized vessels of the lung by a thrombus formed in the pulmonary circulatory system or brought from peripheral veins. This disease is similar in nature to myocardial infarction - it has the same rapid development and is characterized by the death of tissue in the affected area.

Whooping cough is an acute infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets. Whooping cough, the symptoms of which are characterized by cyclical manifestations, as well as a prolonged cough of a paroxysmal nature, is especially dangerous for children (under two years of age in particular), although people of any age can get sick with it.

Cryptococcosis is a dangerous disease that is classified as a deep mycoses with a chronic course. A characteristic feature of this pathology is that mycosis affects not only the skin, but also the tissues of the central nervous system, lungs and muscles. Cryptococcosis begins to progress immediately after the causative fungus enters a person’s lungs along with the air. From the lungs it penetrates the circulatory system and spreads throughout the body. Most often it “attacks” the brain. This disease primarily affects men between 40 and 60 years of age. Children get it very rarely.

Lobar pneumonia is an inflammatory-allergic disease of the lungs, characterized by compaction of one or several lobes of the lung, as well as the formation of pathological exudate in the alveoli. As a result, lung tissue ceases to actively participate in the gas exchange process. This dangerous disease is caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic hereditary disease accompanied by specific systemic damage to the exocrine glands. Cystic fibrosis, the symptoms of which are determined on the basis of the specified lesion, is a chronic and incurable disease, it is accompanied by respiratory disorders, as well as disorders associated with the functions of the digestive system, including a number of other concomitant disorders.

Acute bronchitis is a disease characterized by an acute inflammatory process of the bronchial mucosa. The main symptom by which the disease can be identified is cough. People most often fall ill after hypothermia, damage to the body by various infections, abuse of nicotine, and decreased immunity.

Mercury poisoning is one of the most serious poisonings of the body, which is dangerous due to its consequences. Most often, mercury enters the human body in the form of dust or vapor, through breathing or food. If this substance is ingested in a small amount and only once, it will not cause harm to health - the mercury will be eliminated from the body on its own without additional action. If it enters the bloodstream - through the kidneys along with urine, into the digestive tract - with feces. Such metal, entering the body, is not absorbed into the tissues and leaves unchanged.

Pneumoconiosis is a chronic disease that develops in the lung tissues due to regular exposure of the human body to various types of dust. There are no restrictions regarding gender and age category.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium species, discovered by Robert Koch in 1882. They come in 74 types and are transmitted through water, soil, and from a sick person to a healthy person. The form of the disease to which people are most often susceptible is pulmonary tuberculosis, due to the fact that the main type of transmission of bacteria is airborne.

Periarteritis nodosa is a disease that affects small and medium-sized vessels. In official medicine, the disease is called necrotizing vasculitis. Common names include periarteritis, Kussmaul-Mayer disease, and panarteritis. As the pathology develops, aneurysms form, repeated damage not only to tissues, but also to internal organs.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD diagnosis) is a pathological process characterized by partial restriction of air flow in the respiratory tract. The disease causes irreversible changes in the human body, so there is a great threat to life if treatment is not prescribed on time.

Chronic pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, as a result of which the soft tissues of the organ are affected. It bears just such a name, since the process is repeated constantly and is characterized by periods of exacerbation and retreat of symptoms.

Chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory process that develops and progresses in the organs of the respiratory system. With this disease, the functioning of the bronchi is disrupted, and damage to their protective and cleansing activity predominates. Due to a violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of this organ, chronic bronchitis is accompanied by the release of a large amount of sputum, pure or with impurities, when coughing.

With the help of exercise and abstinence, most people can do without medicine.

Symptoms and treatment of human diseases

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