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Cough: causes, forms and treatments


If the cough is a mechanical reaction of the body to protect the lungs, it manifests itself in different forms depending on the causes of the attack. There are many causes that may be behind it. It can take different forms which depend directly on its origin.

Causes of the aggression causing cough
The French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SFORL) offers a classification of the main triggers of cough :

A disease or infection: coughing can be a symptom associated with another disease that may or may not affect the airways. It can be a flu, bronchitis or even a cold. It is sometimes accompanied by other symptoms such as runny nose, fever or vomiting. Asthma is also a factor often responsible for the onset of cough.
A respiratory allergy: certain foods or components of drugs can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes as a result of an allergic reaction.
Irritating substances: certain substances can be irritating to the respiratory tract. Smoke, dust, pollution can cause coughing. Tobacco and alcohol promote inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Psychological state: anxiety, emotion or even pain can be causes of cough. However, it is generally no longer an involuntary mechanism to protect the lungs but more of a psychological defense mechanism.
The main forms of cough
It can take two different forms which directly depend on its origin: fatty cough and dry cough. These forms can also be characterized by their frequency and duration. We are trying to differentiate an acute cough from a chronic cough.

Oily cough
Also called productive cough usually appears when the airways are irritated by particles. It can also be dust, fine particles in polluted air or bacteria. The cells lining the back of the throat will secrete an excessive dose of mucus, a liquid used to protect it from external aggressions. Oily cough is therefore often accompanied by sputum (sputum, mucus). These may contain blood and then reveal a more serious pathology which requires medical consultation.

Dry cough
Unlike fatty cough, is also called nonproductive cough. Most of the time, it is viral (caused by a virus) and is particularly tiring and painful. In addition, it does not cause sputum as the airways do not secrete mucus. The throat is sore and coughing increases inflammation and the risk of injury. It's a vicious circle.

Medicated cough
Some medications can cause a cough. This is called drug cough. Most of the time, it does not cause sputum and disappears within a month of stopping the medication.

Acute cough and chronic cough
Acute cough usually lasts less than three weeks. It is therefore distinguished from chronic cough that lasts more than three weeks or appears recurrently.

Choosing the right treatment
The importance of the exam
Cough is a common and trivial condition that is not usually serious. On the other hand, it can reveal a deeper pathology and then be only a simple symptom of the latter. Medical examination is therefore essential if the cough is chronic or very painful. In fact, it is estimated that doctors identify the causes of chronic cough in 80% of cases. This identification clearly improves the symptoms 75 times out of 100.

In infants
Like all humans, babies are likely to cough for many reasons and on a fairly regular basis. A healthy baby or child will have an average of just over 10 episodes of cough per year. It is therefore not generally necessary to see a doctor every time a baby coughs. Nevertheless, in the event of a cough that lasts and associated symptoms such as fever, fatigue, breathing difficulties or even a change in behavior, it is recommended to consult a doctor .

It is often associated with colds but it can be caused by three pathologies identified by doctors: laryngitis, an obstruction of the respiratory tract or a viral infection.

In pregnant women
Pregnant women are the subject of particular attention in the diagnosis of cough and medication prescription. Generally it is not treated, except in cases where it becomes very painful, permanent, exhausting and therefore dangerous for pregnancy.

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