Causes of persistent cough and the best way to treat it
One of the serious and dangerous symptoms of respiratory diseases is a lingering cough, which must be treated. It is often possible to get rid of this pathological condition quite quickly by turning it into a productive cough with the help of medications.
Table of contents:
- Causes of persistent cough and the best way to treat it
- Reasons for the development of pathology
- Danger signs
- Antibiotics for pathology
- Drug therapy for cough
- Traditional medicine against illness
- Readers liked:
- Share with your friends! Be healthy!
- Comments (5)
- Stephanie
- Maria
- Louise
- leave a comment
- We recommend reading:
- Our pages
- Discussions
- Protracted cough - effective treatment methods
- Why does the cough last a long time?
- How to cure a persistent cough: correct diagnosis is the first step to recovery
- How to treat a persistent cough?
- Medications for persistent cough
- Treatment of persistent cough with folk remedies
- How to treat a prolonged cough with warming?
- How to treat a long (protracted) cough: inhalations and compresses are an excellent way to combat this unpleasant phenomenon
- How to treat a persistent cough with massage?
- What to do if a lingering cough does not stop after strictly following all medical prescriptions?
- We recommend reading
- How to cure a persistent cough in an adult
- Persistent cough in an adult
- Causes of persistent cough in adults
- Treatment of persistent cough in adults
- Protracted dry cough in an adult
- Prolonged, wet cough in adults
- Protracted cough in adults: causes and treatment of dry, prolonged cough
- Causes and factors of prolonged cough in an adult
- How to treat an old cough
- Folk remedies
- Prolonged cough
- Causes of prolonged cough
- Prolonged cough in a child
- Prolonged cough in adults
- Prolonged dry cough
- Prolonged cough with phlegm
- Prolonged cough without fever
- Treatment of prolonged cough
- How to treat a persistent dry cough
- How to treat a persistent cough in an adult
- Causes of persistent cough
- Treatment of persistent cough with folk remedies
- Drug treatment for persistent cough
- Is it possible to cure a persistent cough with warming?
- Prevention measures
- We recommend:
- 1 Comment
- Add a comment Cancel reply
- About sinusitis
- About a runny nose
- About cough
However, in some cases, such a cough does not go away for several months and becomes chronic. A specialist will tell you how to treat a persistent cough in adults and children after conducting a thorough diagnostic study and identifying the causes of the disease.
Reasons for the development of pathology
The danger of a prolonged cough is that it can provoke the development of more serious respiratory tract diseases.
Experts identify many reasons that can cause a prolonged cough. If a large amount of mucus accumulates in the patient’s nasal cavity, then there is a danger of it getting from the nasopharynx and into the bronchial tree of the lungs. When pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria penetrate the lungs, an inflammatory process begins, which provokes a lingering cough.
With a prolonged cold, the infectious process can spread to the lower parts of the respiratory system, which provokes the development of a disease such as bronchitis. If the patient is not prescribed effective therapy or he seeks medical help late, then there is a danger of bronchitis transitioning from acute to chronic. When a patient is diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a lingering dry cough appears, but sometimes it can occur without pronounced symptoms.
The insidiousness of chronic bronchitis lies in the fact that in the absence of drug treatment, there is a possibility of developing complications such as pneumonia, lung abscess or bronchial asthma.
It is for this reason that if you suspect bronchitis, you must seek help from a specialist as soon as possible and follow all his recommendations and prescriptions.
Often the cause of a lingering cough is pharyngitis, which occurs in a chronic form. As this pathology progresses in the body, the cough is combined with the appearance of a sore throat and a slight tingling sensation.
Young children have not yet developed their immune system, so the body is highly susceptible to various viruses and bacteria. When an infection enters the child’s body, the respiratory system is affected and a cough develops, which, if left untreated, becomes chronic. It is for this reason that cough in childhood is diagnosed much more often than in adult patients.
Danger signs
In any case, if the cough does not go away for a very long time, you need to undergo an examination
If the cough is combined with a rise in body temperature, severe weakness, increased sweating and a deterioration in the general condition, then you should consult a specialist. He will be able to diagnose the cause that caused such an illness and prescribe effective treatment.
Quite often, there are no additional symptoms when coughing, so the patient does not rush to see a doctor. This decision often leads to the fact that the acute inflammatory process in the bronchi and lungs becomes chronic. With this pathological condition, difficulties arise in clearing the bronchi from accumulated mucus, regardless of whether the patient is bothered by a wet or dry cough.
Difficulties arise with the release of sputum from the respiratory organs, and gradually it turns greenish-purulent or dirty-gray. This system is considered quite dangerous, so it is necessary to scan the bronchi using expectorants or simply stimulate a cough.
Antibiotics for pathology
Antibacterial drugs are prescribed depending on the cause of a prolonged cough
Antibacterial therapy is used only after an accurate diagnosis has been made. The patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs, which helps suppress infections that occur in the respiratory system.
When treating a persistent cough, the following types of antibiotics may be prescribed:
- Sumamed has a bactericidal effect and is often prescribed for diagnosing infectious pathologies caused by pathogens sensitive to this drug. Sumamed is prescribed for the treatment of acute tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, scarlet fever and otitis media.
- Azitrox is an antibacterial drug that has a multifaceted effect on microbial activity. The use of such an antibiotic gives a good effect in the treatment of various pathologies of the respiratory system. Azitrox helps speed up the healing process for tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis and bronchitis. This antibacterial drug is not allowed to be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as if liver function is impaired.
- Fromilid quickly penetrates into tissues affected by the inflammatory process. This antibacterial agent is indicated in the treatment of sinusitis, otitis, bronchitis or bacterial pneumonia.
- Grammidin has a bactericidal effect on the inflammatory process and helps eliminate the healing process for sore throat, tonsillitis and pharyngitis. You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to certain components of the drug.
- Macropen is an antibiotic of the macrolide group and is most often prescribed when an infection enters the respiratory system. The course of treatment with this drug is 7-12 days.
More information about bronchitis can be found in the video:
If the patient has been prescribed antibacterial drugs for a prolonged cough, they must be taken for a certain time. Some patients, with noticeable relief of their condition, refuse to take antibiotics, and this is strictly forbidden. This is due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms can persist in the body, which will provoke the re-development of the pathology.
Typically, the course of antibiotic treatment is 10 days and if there is no positive effect, you should consult a doctor. He will conduct a diagnostic study and, if necessary, replace the drug with a more effective one.
Drug therapy for cough
Medications are taken depending on the type of persistent cough
If the patient is bothered by a prolonged dry cough, mucolytic drugs are prescribed. They help increase the production of sputum, which speeds up the patient’s recovery process. In addition, taking mucolytics must be combined with frequent drinking, as it allows stimulating the functioning of bronchial epithelial cells.
For severe coughs, expectorants are prescribed to help clear the bronchi of mucus accumulation. Most often, a dry cough during ARVI occurs at an early stage of the disease or during an exacerbation of an allergic reaction, for example, bronchial asthma.
A prolonged wet cough is characterized by the flow of the inflammatory process in the lungs and the formation of cloudy purulent sputum. The result of this is the entry of purulent exudate into the lung tissue with the development of such complex pathologies as pneumonia and lung abscess. When diagnosing a wet, lingering cough, the following medications are prescribed:
- Mucolytic agents with direct action: Mucomist, Mistabron, Fluimucil.
- Mucolytics with indirect action: Ambroxol, Letostein, Sobrerol.
- Mucokinetic drugs: Ambrosan, Halixol, Ambrobene.
With the help of mucolytics, it is possible to reduce the viscosity of sputum without increasing the volume of secretion. In addition, there is an improvement in the drainage of the bronchi and bronchioles, and the integrity of the cell walls is restored.
Traditional medicine against illness
Steam inhalation is an effective folk remedy for treating a persistent cough.
In order to select an effective treatment for a prolonged cough, it is necessary to identify the cause that caused it. In the event that the development of such a pathological condition of the body has caused a cold, then the use of traditional medicine is permitted.
To combat cough, you can use alternative medicine methods. Typically, specialists prescribe them reluctantly, but patients actively use them at home.
The following recipes give good results in treating cough:
- It is necessary to add 2-3 drops of birch tar to 1 glass of warm milk and drink the resulting mixture in the morning before meals and before bed. It is necessary to carry out treatment with such a folk remedy until the patient feels noticeable relief.
- You can put a compress made from honey, alcohol and vegetable oil. All ingredients must be mixed in equal proportions, applied in a thick layer to the back and covered with a warm blanket. This compress should be kept for several hours, but it is best to do it at night.
- You can prepare an infusion of several onions and honey. To do this, the onions should be peeled, chopped and combined with 2 cups of sugar and 20 ml of honey. The resulting mixture should be poured with a liter of cold water and simmered over low heat for 3 hours. The prepared product must be cooled, strained and the infusion taken warm, 19 ml, several times a day.
- It is necessary to melt goat fat along with honey and lubricate the skin with the resulting solution. The body should be wrapped in paper and covered with a scarf or blanket on top.
- A good effect in treating a lingering cough is given by potato compresses, which are prepared according to the following scheme: peeled root vegetables should be boiled, then mashed with a fork, combined with 10 ml of vegetable oil and 3 drops of iodine. Apply the prepared mixture onto a towel and place it on the chest area. The patient should be well wrapped and the compress should be kept until the potatoes have cooled.
- Inhalations, which can be carried out with a decoction of pine, coltsfoot and thyme buds, are considered an effective way to treat a lingering cough. It is possible to speed up the process of releasing sputum from the lungs with the help of inhalations with honey.
Treatment of cough is carried out both with the help of drug therapy and folk remedies. When the first signs of illness appear, it is recommended to consult a doctor rather than self-medicate.
Noticed a mistake? Select it and press Ctrl+Enter to let us know.
Readers liked:
Share with your friends! Be healthy!
Comments (5)
12/04/2016 at 16:55 | #
A long dry cough just tormented me. The worst thing at night was when I just started coughing. The doctor immediately prescribed me nebulizer inhalations. She prescribed Prospan drops as a medicine. Literally three days later it became easier to cough, sputum began to appear and the condition clearly improved. I already understood that treatment needs to be done on time in order to avoid consequences.
01/15/2017 at 20:30 | #
I speed up the release of mucus from the lungs using inhalations with Prospan. I put drops of saline into the inhaler and breathe. The cough is cured much faster than usual, and without allergies. Hasn't let me down yet.
Stephanie
03/10/2017 at 14:14 | #
I started having a dry cough in the summer when I caught a cold under the air conditioning. The teas didn’t help, but at the pharmacy the pharmacist recommended Prospan syrup. It moistened the throat and helped the cough become productive.
Maria
10/26/2017 at 08:44 | #
My pharyngitis almost turned into bronchitis! Although I was treated with warming and mustard plasters and other herbs. As a result, the doctor scolded me and prescribed me an expectorant, Prospan. I drank it according to the plan and finally the cough began to decrease. And I gargled with calendula.
Louise
24.11.2017 at 20:07 | #
I had a reason, because because of my work, I started coughing, to the point that I couldn’t sleep at night. Fortunately, the pharmacy recommended the drug Bronchobos to me. After taking it, already on the third day I began to cough noticeably less often. and then he disappeared completely. I now recommend him to all my friends
leave a comment
We recommend reading:
Our pages
Discussions
- Ira – Hypothermia often provokes hypothermia. – 01.03.2018
- Rita – If my little one is sick. – 02/28/2018
- Katya - This is a good article. I encountered it myself. – 02/28/2018
- Yulia - Arina, you have ARVI. – 02/28/2018
- Olga Vasilenko – I avoided this drug for a long time. – 02/28/2018
- Irina – Whooping cough emerges at all stages. – 02/28/2018
The medical information published on this page is strictly not recommended for self-medication. If you feel negative changes in your health, immediately contact an ENT specialist. All articles published on our resource are for informational purposes only. If you use this material or a fragment of it on your website, an active link to the source is required.
Source: http://tvojlor.com/lor/respiratory/kashel/zatyazhnoj-kashel-chem-lechit.html
Protracted cough - effective treatment methods
You can often hear complaints from different people about a protracted, prolonged cough. It can cause many unpleasant moments to a person and significantly reduce the quality of life of both the sufferer himself and the people around him. Why does an incessant cough haunt some people for a long time? The reasons for this can be quite varied.
Why does the cough last a long time?
It is no secret that reflex convulsive spasms are associated with a large number of diseases. However, some patients manage to get rid of the unpleasant symptom in a matter of days, while for others the cough does not stop for a whole month, and sometimes even a year. Why is this happening?
There are several reasons for this. According to research by pulmonologists, the phenomenon of prolonged cough can be caused by the following factors:
- Allergy (for this reason, a dry cough can last two months, six months, depending on the duration of action of the provocateur, when removed, the unpleasant symptom goes away, and when it appears again).
- Some infections that cause long-term unpleasant symptoms.
- Long stay in areas with polluted ecology.
- Incorrect treatment tactics, premature completion.
- Smoking (a dry cough that continues for more than a year is very common for this reason).
- A combination of viral and bacterial infection.
- Transition from the acute stage of certain diseases to the chronic stage.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system (treatment of persistent cough in adults is often required for this reason).
- Residual effects of pneumonia, bronchitis.
- Uncontrolled use of pharmaceutical drugs.
- Poisoning by vapors, chemicals.
- Old age (treatment of a persistent cough that arises for this reason does not bring complete relief from the unpleasant phenomenon, but can significantly alleviate the suffering of an elderly person).
- Drinking alcohol for a long time.
- Swelling of the throat.
- Tuberculosis.
- Lungs' cancer.
How to cure a persistent cough: correct diagnosis is the first step to recovery
The main advice that doctors give to people who are faced with long-lasting convulsive reflex exhalations is not to independently search for the cause that caused them, and not to use drugs that suppress spasms. With any of the diseases listed above, a lingering cough may occur, treatment of which should be started only after visiting a doctor. The specialist will order all the tests and identify the factor that provokes the unpleasant symptom.
The question of what to do if a cough does not go away for 2 weeks, a month or 2 years should be asked to the doctor, and not to your grandmother, neighbor or friend.
It won’t hurt to conduct parallel examinations with a pulmonologist, an ENT specialist and an allergist. Specialists will be able to take a diverse approach to finding the problem. Each of them will prescribe the necessary tests for a long-term cough and procedures that will help make a diagnosis with the greatest accuracy and clarify the situation, making the treatment of the disease much more effective.
Only after the conclusions of all doctors, exclusion of some causes, confirmation of others, treatment is prescribed, which the patient must strictly comply with.
How to treat a persistent cough?
Once the doctor has identified the cause and indicated methods to combat the disease, the patient can only adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen. Most often, methods such as:
Medications for persistent cough
If it is advisable to use pharmaceutical drugs to combat convulsive spasms of the respiratory tract, the doctor first of all considers the need to prescribe antibiotics. With their help, a long cough is treated, accompanied by copious green sputum, sometimes with yellow impurities. Such discharge is evidence of various purulent inflammations occurring in the respiratory organs, and requiring the use of drugs that suppress the pathological process.
Experts try not to use broad-spectrum antibiotics, due to the resistance of pathogens to such drugs, but prescribe a remedy that treats specifically a specific disease. In this case, the doctor will definitely find out from the patient what drugs he used before. The region of residence of the patient is of great importance, since in different areas the resistance to various agents in pathogenic organisms is not the same.
Medicines for a prolonged cough are often prescribed to help thin mucus and speed up its elimination from the body. This:
The medications listed above, which have a symptomatic effect, are taken in combination with medications aimed at getting rid of (treatment) from the underlying disease.
Treatment of persistent cough with folk remedies
When fighting the disease, successful results are achieved using alternative medicine methods. Doctors willingly prescribe, and patients use folk remedies because of their simplicity, accessibility, and low cost. They have proven themselves very well:
All traditional methods are prescribed individually, depending on the disease causing the symptom.
How to treat a prolonged cough with warming?
Various thermal procedures provide an excellent effect in the fight against illness. This includes such remedies known from childhood as:
- Mustard plasters.
- Iodine mesh on chest, back.
- Hot foot baths.
- Banks.
- Rubbing with alcohol, animal fat.
These remedies are very effective in relieving lingering coughs caused by diseases of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx. Unfortunately, in a number of other cases their effectiveness is controversial.
How to treat a long (protracted) cough: inhalations and compresses are an excellent way to combat this unpleasant phenomenon
Effective methods of combating the disease are those that act directly on the patient’s throat and respiratory tract. These are compresses and inhalations. Their advantages lie in their low cost and ease of use, as well as a small list of contraindications.
The following components can be used for compresses:
The ingredients for inhalation solutions for the treatment of persistent cough are also quite simple. This:
- Medications (ambrobene, lazolvan, fluimucil, sinupret).
- Propolis.
- Eucalyptus.
- Calendula.
- Saline solution.
- Soda.
- Mineral water.
Do not forget that these methods are not always appropriate, and only a doctor can prescribe them.
How to treat a persistent cough with massage?
There are various manipulation techniques that are effective in combating a persistent cough. Among them the most popular are:
- Drainage procedures.
- Massage with cupping.
- Pressing on certain points.
- Segmental manipulations.
- Vibration massage.
It is best if a specialist performs the procedure. However, some relatives of patients learn the techniques themselves and successfully help their loved ones.
What to do if a lingering cough does not stop after strictly following all medical prescriptions?
It is very rare, but it happens that the patient carefully follows all the doctor’s instructions, but the illness does not recede. In this case, you must not lose faith in recovery. It is necessary to go for a second consultation with a specialist and undergo additional examinations. A symptom can be caused in parallel by several causes present in the body, or one disease was cured, and the second, dormant for the time being, suddenly became active.
Sometimes these things happen due to the incompetence of the doctor. Therefore, it is very important not to skimp on treatment, but to see an experienced specialist who has proven himself well.
Fortunately, cases of unsuccessful treatment due to the fault of doctors are the exception rather than the rule. Therefore, if the patient strictly follows all the specialist’s instructions, does it regularly and does not give up treatment halfway, then getting rid of a lingering cough and the illness that causes it will not take long.
We recommend reading
For me, folk remedies have always been a good addition to the main treatment. I usually treat coughs with Prospan, it also helped cure a lingering cough. During the day I drink tea with ginger and honey, and black radish juice with honey or sugar.
Source: http://pro-kashel.ru/lechenie-kashlya/zatyazhnoy
How to cure a persistent cough in an adult
Home » Cough » How to cure a persistent cough in an adult
Persistent cough in an adult
Coughing is a natural reaction to various respiratory irritants. In most cases, it occurs against the background of an infectious or viral disease. If the cough does not last long, then there is no need to worry. If the symptoms do not subside even after a month, then serious treatment is necessary. In this case, the susceptibility of the lungs becomes higher, and coughing occurs as a reflex.
Causes of persistent cough in adults
Sometimes patients stop taking medications prescribed by the doctor at the first improvement, especially antibiotics, then the cough can become protracted.
Another cause is smoker's bronchitis.
The danger of a long-term cough is that it becomes chronic. This can happen as a result of bronchitis, cancer, heart or lung pathology. A prolonged cough is accompanied by wheezing, heartburn, chest congestion, and hemoptysis. Sleep is disturbed, dizziness, increased sweating and urinary incontinence occur.
Adults often do not take this symptom seriously, and this can lead to serious consequences. Only a doctor can find out the cause and prescribe treatment.
Treatment of persistent cough in adults
The first step when visiting a doctor is to conduct examinations to rule out pneumonia, tuberculosis, asthma, and lung cancer. If the cause is established, cough suppressants based on menthol, honey, and codeine are prescribed.
A persistent cough can be treated at home. This is only permissible if it is not a symptom of a dangerous disease.
Take twenty-five grams of rose hips, wormwood, pine buds, yarrow and add one and a half liters of water. Boil for ten minutes and leave for a day. Strain and add one hundred grams of aloe and befungin juice, two hundred and fifty grams of honey and one hundred and twenty-five grams of cognac. Take a teaspoon three times a day half an hour before meals.
Add three drops of birch tar to one hundred grams of warm milk and drink on an empty stomach in the morning and before bed. Continue the course until complete recovery.
Treat yourself with a compress. To do this, heat a tablespoon of honey, flour, dry mustard, vodka, aloe juice, and interior fat in a water bath. Place gauze on your back. Lubricate the bronchial area with the mixture, put another layer of gauze, polyethylene and cover the top with a scarf. Fix and leave overnight.
For dry cough, eat a large onion three times a day with meals. Soon the mucus will begin to come off well.
Drink a tablespoon of flaxseed oil three times a day before meals. After five days the cough will be much less.
Do inhalations with essential oils of lavender and marjoram.
Gargle throughout the day every three hours with a soda solution. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt or soda in a glass of warm water and add three drops of iodine.
To treat cough, massage sessions are additionally prescribed.
The room needs to be humidified. Hot and dry air dries out the mucous membrane of the nose and respiratory tract, which leads to mucus stagnation. Try not to get too cold and during periods of widespread illness, avoid visiting crowded places. Stop smoking during the treatment period.
Protracted dry cough in an adult
A dry or unproductive cough is often a sign of colds: tracheitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, acute viral respiratory disease. It comes in two types:
1. With a barking cough, a sore and sore throat occurs, and the voice disappears. This is typical for viral diseases or as a reaction to mechanical irritation of the mucous membrane;
2. Paroxysmal cough occurs more often with bronchitis and tracheitis. You may feel chest pain and difficulty breathing.
With this cough there is no sputum. An inflammatory process forms in the throat, excess mucus occurs, and a sick person wants to clear his throat.
The doctor prescribes antitussive drugs. Their action is aimed at relaxing the pharyngeal mucosa and reducing bronchial spasms. To get rid of a strong cough, sedatives are used to control it.
Prolonged, wet cough in adults
A wet cough occurs due to the accumulation of sputum in the lungs of the trachea. It often occurs after a dry cough and brings additional discomfort. He needs to be treated immediately. The lungs will begin to be cleared of sputum, which contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria.
When a wet cough does not go away for a long time, it becomes chronic. To thin the sputum, medications are prescribed that make it less viscous and remove it from the body. They are resorptive and reflexive. The first ones are made on the basis of iodides and sodium. The second are based on plant substances. During treatment, you need to drink as much liquid as possible - water, juices, herbal infusions.
Protracted cough in adults: causes and treatment of dry, prolonged cough
A cough is a reflex contraction of the respiratory muscles. In response to irritation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, trachea, pleura and larynx, air is sharply expelled from the lungs.
At this point, the airways are cleared of foreign particles and mucus accumulation.
If a cough does not produce sputum (bronchial secretions), it is called unproductive or dry.
The opposite of it is a cough accompanied by phlegm. They call it wet.
Depending on the duration of the symptom, doctors divide it into several types:
- acute cough (less than 2 weeks);
- persistent cough (up to 4 weeks);
- subacute cough (up to 2 months);
- chronic cough (more than 2-3 months).
Causes and factors of prolonged cough in an adult
The most common cause of the development of this symptom is a complication of the course of diseases of viral and infectious etiology. This occurs when the pathogen settles and actively multiplies on the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree.
With untimely or poor treatment of colds and flu, a chronic cough occurs. For example, this happens when the disease was initially viral in nature and was treated with antibiotics. As a result of this “treatment,” the problem worsens and complications develop.
Some patients try not to take sick leave and suffer from colds on their feet. They still go to the doctor, but only after the body temperature rises and becomes seriously unwell. In this case, the infection managed to affect the lungs and bronchi.
Coughing and nasal secretions flowing into the larynx occurs with ailments:
Also, a prolonged cough occurs with chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and gastroesophageal reflux, when the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus.
In some cases, a dry, prolonged cough can be a side effect of certain medications for hypertension and heart failure. The drug Enalapril has similar properties.
Smokers often complain of a lingering cough with phlegm, especially after suffering from a cold or viral illness. In these patients, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract differs significantly from the state of the bronchial tree of a healthy person. Also, people who smoke have a weakened immune system and cannot cope with infections.
The causes of prolonged cough with or without phlegm may be hidden under allergies. Receptors of the mucous membrane of the larynx and bronchi become extremely sensitive to any irritants:
- cigarette smoke;
- dust;
- pet hair;
- pollen from trees and flowers.
It is important to emphasize that a prolonged cough in an adult without other symptoms can be a signal of the presence of dangerous diseases, for example, cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis.
Without timely and adequate treatment, a lingering cough with sputum develops into diseases:
These pathologies pose a danger to the patient's life. Therefore, it is extremely reckless to self-medicate or ignore it altogether!
To make a correct diagnosis, a therapist, otolaryngologist or pulmonologist will refer the patient to undergo a series of tests and examinations. You will need to donate blood from a finger, veins, and sputum. The patient needs to have an X-ray of the lungs and undergo an external respiration test:
How to treat an old cough
Based on the patient’s condition, the results of his tests and symptoms, the doctor will recommend a specific treatment regimen.
In this case, it will be necessary to transform a prolonged non-productive cough into a wet productive one (with sputum). For these purposes, an expectorant is prescribed. Such medications promote high-quality discharge of bronchial secretions.
As a supplement, you will need to take medications that stimulate expectoration: resorptive, reflex action, diluting sputum. These are usually classified as:
Depending on the nature of the prolonged cough with sputum, the person will need to be treated with antihistamines and antimicrobials.
Treatment of a lingering cough, if it is dry, is carried out with medications containing codeine. At night, to relieve irritation, the chest and back of an adult are rubbed with warming ointments.
Inhalations are quite effective. They are carried out using an inhaler:
If such a device is not at hand, improvised means are quite suitable. Healing vapors of drugs, together with air currents, penetrate the bronchi and improve their condition. It is possible to achieve restoration of the mucous membrane, increased blood supply, and improved sputum removal.
Sometimes it doesn't hurt to inhale the vapors coming from a pan of hot liquid. You can infuse medicinal herbs or breathe over potatoes. Decoctions of elderberry, raspberry, linden blossom, coltsfoot, and sage are used.
You can inhale with aromatic oils. The product has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. To treat a cough, take a shallow container and pour warm water into it (about 40 degrees). Add a couple of drops of essential oil to the liquid:
Then cover your head with a terry towel, bend over the container and inhale the vapor for 5-7. After half an hour, the procedure will need to be done again.
Chronic cough with sputum in an adult can be treated with warm-moisture inhalation. The thermal effect helps to liquefy mucus and remove it from the lumen of the bronchi. In addition, dry mucous membranes are eliminated.
Antibiotics, hormonal medications, sulfonamides and other ingredients recommended by the doctor are added to warm pharmaceutical saline solutions.
Sometimes inhalations for coughs are made with soda solutions or alkaline mineral waters. The duration of such treatment is no more than 10 minutes. If your cough is dry, baking soda is not suitable. This remedy will provoke:
- even greater drying of the mucous membrane;
- worsening tickling and cough.
Folk remedies
You can cure a prolonged cough with folk remedies. It is useful to inhale hot infusions of garlic and onions. Vegetables are peeled, cut into small cubes and poured into a ceramic teapot by a quarter. Boiling water is added to the onions and garlic and the steam begins to inhale for a while through the spout of the kettle.
Another treatment for a lingering cough can be done with cupping. It is advisable to use special small medical jars with a rounded bottom. However, it should be borne in mind that you need to treat a cough in this way with an assistant.
A decoction of linden blossom will help cure a prolonged cough with phlegm. It is enough to pour 3 tablespoons of dry inflorescences with one glass of boiling water. Means:
- keep in a water bath for 15 minutes;
- allow to cool;
- filter;
- taken three times a day.
Thyme infusion has expectorant properties. The herb (2 tablespoons) is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for 20 minutes. Then filter and drink 3 times a day.
If the cough has been bothering you for a long time, a decoction of tricolor violet will help get rid of it. For treatment, add a tablespoon of crushed dry raw materials to a glass of boiling water. Prepare the product using the technology described above.
Whatever the reason, a prolonged cough should be treated! Otherwise, after some time it will develop into a chronicle and seriously complicate the patient’s life. Treatment will require a lot of effort, time and finances.
The video in this article will help you figure out what to do if you have a prolonged cough.
Prolonged cough
Causes of prolonged cough
Cough itself is not a disease. Cough is a symptom that occurs when air encounters any obstruction in the respiratory tract. Of course, there is no point in running to the doctor if there is slight discomfort and a sore throat, but if the cough does not go away, you should consult a doctor. A cough that does not go away for four to eight weeks is considered long-lasting.
There can be many reasons for a cough. Depending on them, the cough itself changes.
Cough may be a symptom of, for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease. With it, sudden movements of the body provoke the contents of the stomach to enter the esophagus, which gives rise to heartburn and cough.
With bronchitis and pneumonia, cough appears from the presence of phlegm in the lungs.
Cough may occur with lung cancer. Then it is dry or with rare release of light sputum.
Cough with bronchial asthma is very difficult to stop. Often, it occurs against the background of excessive smoking and is identified by accompanying whistling sounds. This is especially evident in the morning hours.
Cough with whooping cough begins in attacks. It is exhausting because... attacks can be very frequent - repeated up to 12 times.
With heart disease, a dry cough also occurs. In this case, the cause is stagnation of blood in the lungs. It causes a feeling of lack of air.
And of course, do not forget about coughs, which are caused by acute respiratory diseases. It usually causes a sore throat and sore throat.
Prolonged cough in a child
The mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are covered with ciliated epithelium; in the body it performs a protective function and helps the respiratory tract get rid of foreign bodies. During this process, a cough appears.
If a child’s cough does not go away within a month, despite being treated, it is considered long-term. In this case, your pediatrician should refer you to other specialists for a more detailed examination, conduct a Mantoux test and prescribe the necessary tests.
The cause of a prolonged cough in a child may be: fungal infections, they usually appear after treatment of an infectious disease with antibiotics; damage to the respiratory tract by roundworm larvae; viral diseases, which make it difficult for children to cough; purulent lung diseases; chronic respiratory diseases; various allergic reactions.
Prolonged cough in adults
The causes of prolonged cough in adults are the same as in children. Depending on the causes of a prolonged cough, it is observed with such symptoms as: blood in the sputum, whistling when breathing, wheezing, nasal congestion and heartburn. In addition, a prolonged debilitating cough provokes headaches, dizziness, impaired sleep quality, and urinary incontinence.
In order to identify the cause of a prolonged cough as quickly as possible, it is necessary to describe to the doctor as accurately as possible what exactly is bothering you and what symptoms accompany the cough. Often a chronic cough is the only symptom of a disease such as asthma.
Prolonged dry cough
In order to get rid of a long-term dry cough, it is not enough to carry out only symptomatic treatment. Even if you manage to relieve an attack of dry cough without getting rid of the cause, the attacks will appear again and again and have an increasing tendency. In addition, if treated incorrectly, bronchial asthma can develop. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause. A prolonged dry cough can be provoked by: fungal infections; burns of the respiratory tract with hot air; smoking, including passive smoking; entry of small foreign bodies into the bronchi; allergy; chemical damage.
The pathogenesis of the development of dry cough includes many factors; a visit to the doctor will help to understand them and identify the cause.
Prolonged cough with phlegm
There can be many reasons for the occurrence of cough with sputum, and among them there are very serious diseases. In order to diagnose them, it is necessary to clearly formulate what kind of sputum is bothering you.
Sputum is mucus that contains white blood cells, leukocytes, particles of dead tissue of the respiratory tract and waste products of microorganisms and bacteria that cause diseases.
The sputum may be white, yellow, green, gray or even black, sometimes with blood present.
The nature of sputum and the timing of coughing attacks help determine the disease.
Green sputum indicates the presence of pus in the respiratory tract. Its abundance means that a large abscess has ruptured in the lungs. But such sputum can also be a consequence of sinusitis. A cough with thick, curd-like sputum can indicate both fungal diseases and tuberculosis. A cough with thick, difficult-to-clear sputum may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Black and gray sputum with an unpleasant putrid odor indicates the presence of cancer.
Usually doctors can determine the cause of a prolonged cough with the formation of sputum, but sometimes there are cases when this cannot be done. Then you have to carry out treatment by trial and error.
Prolonged cough without fever
Almost every person has encountered such a problem as a cough without fever. Few people attach serious importance to it, but in vain, such a cough can be a symptom of a hidden viral infection. For some reason, when an infection occurred, the body did not want to fight it by raising the temperature. Heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, allergies, respiratory diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia, all these diseases can cause a prolonged cough without fever.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a very dangerous disease that causes a prolonged cough without fever; even with timely diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to complications.
It is especially worth paying attention to cough during pregnancy. It is difficult to treat, since most medications are contraindicated for the expectant mother. And severe coughing attacks can lead to serious complications, including termination of pregnancy.
Treatment of prolonged cough
Depending on the type of cough, treatment is prescribed. There are methods that will help alleviate the manifestation of the cough reflex, regardless of the reasons for its occurrence. Firstly, you need to quit smoking. Don't forget to humidify the air, this will help remove mucus. Drink more fluids, at least two liters of water, it thins and removes mucus. Do inhalations using essential oils, they will soften the mucous membranes and help you breathe easier.
In order to cure a dry cough, you need to soften the mucous membrane. It is also necessary to get rid of the irritant that causes the cough. Lollipops, as well as gargling with herbs, furatsilin solution, and salted water give a quick effect. These procedures will help relieve a coughing attack, but not for long.
Drugs that have an antiseptic, enveloping and anti-inflammatory effect have a longer lasting effect. There are drugs that can suppress the cough reflex in the brain, but they should not be used under any circumstances without a doctor’s prescription.
In the treatment of wet cough, medications that thin the mucus by increasing sputum will help; they have antibacterial properties and improve sputum discharge. There are traditional methods to combat cough. A compress of mustard plasters applied to the chest and back (contraindicated at fever). Inhalations using essential oils. Hot foot baths with mustard powder. Black radish juice with honey.
In any case, if you experience a long-term chronic cough, do not delay visiting your doctor. After all, in order to get rid of an annoying cough, you need to get rid of the cause of its occurrence. Go to specialists, do x-rays and other necessary tests.
How to treat a persistent dry cough
A lingering dry cough is usually treated with the help of drugs that inhibit the cough center in the brain and promote the transition of a dry cough to a wet one. Inhalations and massage are effective treatments for dry cough.
Source: http://neb0ley.ru/kashel/kak-vylechit-zatjanuvshijsja-kashel-u-vzroslogo.html
How to treat a persistent cough in an adult
Experts call a cough a reflexive contraction of the muscles of the respiratory system. There is a sharp expulsion of air from the lungs. This is a response process to irritation of the mucous membrane of the trachea, larynx, or bronchi. In this way, the body tries to cleanse the respiratory system of foreign particles or accumulated mucus.
A lingering cough in an adult is determined by one important sign: it does not go away for more than four weeks. If during this time the cough has not been eliminated, it still causes inconvenience and is said to be a protracted form.
A prolonged cough may be accompanied by sputum production. During the day, a person may experience coughing attacks. In such cases, it can last for several minutes, preventing the patient from breathing. The irritation of the mucous membrane can be so severe that stopping the cough can be very difficult. The patient may experience pain in the throat, lungs, and diaphragm.
Causes of persistent cough
In adults, this form of cough appears for the following reasons:
- Allergy.
- Chronical bronchitis.
- Infectious inflammation: bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia.
- Professional human activity associated with dust, talc.
- Colds.
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- Smoking.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Asthma.
Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of a lingering cough. After examining the patient and taking tests, the doctor can tell what caused the prolonged cough.
A cough often occurs when the patient stops taking medications prescribed by a specialist. This happens especially often with a cold. The patient believes that he has been cured, stops taking the medication, but meanwhile the cough returns and complications appear. Experts advise taking medications throughout the entire treatment period.
This form of cough may be accompanied by wheezing, chest congestion, and heartburn. The person feels weak and tired. Cough often leads to dizziness.
Treatment of persistent cough with folk remedies
Not only medications, but also folk remedies help get rid of a cough. One of the most effective remedies is thyme. You need to prepare a decoction from this ingredient. You will need one tablespoon of this component and 250 ml of boiling water. The ingredients are mixed and infused for an hour. After this period of time, the resulting broth is filtered. It is necessary to take the prepared product three times a day, one tablespoon. Thyme has an expectorant effect. With its help, you can disinfect the respiratory system and get rid of pathogenic bacteria that contribute to the development of cough. With regular use of this remedy, the cough weakens and eventually disappears completely.
It is recommended to use black radish juice for a persistent cough. You must first wash it, then make a small indentation. One tablespoon of honey is placed in it. After three hours, this depression will be filled with juice. The radish can then be cut into slices and sprinkled with sugar. After four hours, the juice will come out again. The patient must take one tablespoon three times a day. This is one of the most effective methods in which phlegm is removed from the lungs and cough is eliminated. In a few days the person will feel much better, the unpleasant phenomenon will be eliminated.
Many patients benefit from a recipe that contains milk. A glass of this product must be boiled. Next, four figs are poured over it; they can be chopped. Then the mixed components are covered with a towel until completely cooled. The prepared medicine should be taken by the patient three times a day, 100 ml. The resulting remedy is also used for rubbing the chest, the effect of the medicine will only increase, and the person will recover faster.
Grated lemon juice with sugar is an effective cough remedy. The prepared product must be consumed every day two to three times after meals. After a few days, the cough will be eliminated, and pathogens in the respiratory tract and sputum will disappear. Lemon juice will help the patient increase immunity and strengthen the body. Recovery will be the fastest.
If the cough is prolonged and does not subside, you need to drink plenty of warm liquids. An excellent remedy is tea with lemon and honey. It warms up the chest, helps remove phlegm from the body, boosts immunity, and helps fight unpleasant symptoms. You can replace tea with milk. You can also add honey to it. Drinking milk gives a person strength and will help cope with even a strong and protracted cough.
Drug treatment for persistent cough
Experts advise taking Gerbion syrup to treat cough. Its main component is plantain, which has an antitussive and anti-inflammatory effect. The syrup helps remove phlegm. Herbion contains vitamin C, which strengthens the respiratory system and human immunity. Adults are allowed to take the medicine up to five times a day, two teaspoons.
A medicine called Bronholitin will help the patient in treating cough. It is made in the form of syrup. It should be consumed by adults three times a day, 10 ml. Take the drug for five to seven days. During this period of time, the cough will be eliminated, the airways will be cleared of phlegm. The person will feel better.
The drug Libexin combats persistent cough. It is made in tablet form. They must be taken without chewing. Adults need to take one tablet of this drug three times a day. The drug eliminates cough and fights pathogenic bacteria that accumulate in the respiratory tract. In a few days the patient will recover and his condition will improve.
Doctors advise taking Fluditec for a persistent cough. It is made in the form of syrup. Adults need to consume it three times a day, one tablespoon. The medication effectively fights cough and eliminates it in the shortest possible time. A person recovers within a few days after taking the syrup.
Is it possible to cure a persistent cough with warming?
Warming, according to experts, is very effective in combating coughs, especially prolonged ones. If you want to enhance the effects of medications, you need to warm up the body. Using warming procedures you can achieve the following results:
- Complete recovery of the body.
- Elimination of cough.
- Removing mucus.
- Chest pain, heartburn, and wheezing will disappear.
- Immunity will increase.
- The healing process will be faster and the effect of medications will be enhanced.
- Pathogenic bacteria in the respiratory tract will be destroyed due to heating.
Experts advise warming your feet in hot water. You can add mustard powder. The procedure lasts twenty-five minutes. Next, the patient should put on warm socks and go to bed. It is not recommended to go outside after this procedure. A person should stay at home, warm. It is recommended to warm your feet before going to bed.
You can also warm up your chest. Well-known mustard plasters are suitable for this. You need to keep them for no more than ten minutes, sometimes five minutes is enough. As soon as the skin turns red and a strong tingling sensation appears, the mustard plasters can be removed. Every day before going to bed, you must apply this procedure. With its help, the cough will be eliminated quickly.
Doctors advise using inhalations. With their help, the airways warm up. The procedures are carried out at home and lead to recovery. One of the simplest methods is soda inhalation. Add a little soda to warm water. A tablespoon of the component is enough. A person needs to breathe in the steam, covered with a blanket for ten minutes. This method helps remove phlegm from the lungs and eliminate cough. You can add salt instead of soda. It will also help relieve cough.
Potato inhalation is no less popular. You need to boil a few potatoes “in their jackets”. A person needs to bend over a container of warm potatoes and cover himself with a blanket. The procedure continues for ten minutes. It also helps remove phlegm and eliminate cough. After a few days the person will feel better.
Prevention measures
Experts say that the appearance of a lingering cough can be prevented if you follow some rules:
- You need to eat food rich in vitamins.
- It is necessary to give up alcohol and cigarettes. They negatively affect human immunity.
- A person should avoid hypothermia and changes in air temperature.
- If you become aware of an epidemic of a viral infection, you must avoid public places.
- It is imperative to monitor home hygiene. Dust can cause coughing.
- Breathing exercises will help strengthen the body.
To avoid colds and coughs, you need to dress warmly during cold weather. You must cover your neck with a scarf; you cannot go outside in winter without gloves and mittens. Warm socks should be on your feet. Shoes should not be too tight or too small, because this leads to hypothermia. A warmly dressed person resists cold, frosty air, protects himself from hypothermia and illness.
As soon as the first signs of a cold appear, a sore throat is felt, a cough appears, it is necessary to be treated immediately. It is recommended to visit a doctor and consult with him in choosing medications. In the early stages, a cough is much easier to cure before it becomes protracted.
A person who is attentive to his health will make every effort to prevent the development of a lingering cough. You need to strengthen your immune system, take vitamins and, if necessary, visit a doctor. These measures will help a person avoid such an unpleasant, long-lasting phenomenon.
We recommend:
1 Comment
It’s strange that Prospan syrup is not on the list; I usually treat coughs with it and don’t allow it to linger. If I start treatment on time, I recover in a few days. Health to everyone!
Add a comment Cancel reply
About sinusitis
About a runny nose
About cough
© 2018 Information portal about sinusitis, runny nose and cough. The information published on the site does not constitute a recommendation for use and is intended for informational purposes only. Be sure to consult with your doctor!
Source: http://antritishelp.ru/chem-lechit-zatyazhnoj-kashel-u-vzroslogo