Coughing is not uncommon. Often, in the fight against him, the state remains the same, and nothing helps. What actions to take if the child's cough persists for a long time? Why does it appear, and how to cure it? Before talking about the correct treatment, it is necessary to understand the causes of the pathological condition.
For cough treatment to be quick and effective, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause of its occurrence.
What is a lingering cough, and for what reasons does it occur in children?
Cough is a protective reflex of the body, with the help of which the respiratory tract is cleared of viruses, mucus, dust. It occurs due to mechanical, chemical, viral and inflammatory effects.
A long cough in a child is divided into two types - dry and wet, which are formed for various reasons. Rare morning coughs after sleep are considered normal.
This symptom may be rudimentary - due to a recent or untreated cold illness. Many parents stop taking a course of therapy or reduce the dosage of medication (including antibiotics) when the main symptoms of the disease disappear. As a result, a prolonged lingering cough appears, which can last 2-3 months.
Persistent cough in a child is divided into the following forms:
- barking (croaking) - often accompanied by wheezing, a typical sign of viral pathologies that are localized in the trachea and larynx;
- hoarse - formed during bronchial asthma / penetration of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
- night - usually observed in a baby sleeping on the back, since the mucus accumulated in the nasopharynx flows down the back wall and causes irritation, typical of bronchial asthma;
- emetic - appears during acute pathologies of the respiratory system (for example, with acute bronchitis), sputum accumulates, gets into the throat, and then into the stomach, which further provokes vomiting.
There are many factors in the development of a lingering cough in children. The main reasons for its appearance are discussed in the table:
| Type of cough | The reason for the development | Peculiarities |
| Dry | Unfavorable microclimate | The mucous membrane of the child's respiratory tract is especially sensitive, so dry air, smoke, dust, stuffiness in the room can irritate it. |
| Acute bronchitis | This pathology is accompanied by bouts of barking cough, which does not go away at night, and an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees. | |
| Laryngitis / pharyngitis | A severe swelling of the larynx forms, this causes constant sore throat, the voice becomes hoarse, little physical activity leads to shortness of breath. | |
| Whooping cough | The disease can even be in vaccinated children (in a mild form). Initial symptoms are similar to those of a common cold or allergy. Initially, there is a dry cough, gradually the frequency and duration of attacks increases. | |
| Croup (oropharyngeal diphtheria) | A dangerous ailment, and if treatment is not carried out on time, it becomes chronic, sometimes pneumonia develops additionally. | |
| Tuberculosis | Secondary symptoms are rare, the disease is detected only with a comprehensive examination. | |
| Allergy | The cough is sudden and intensifies during prolonged contact with an irritant. | |
| The presence of helminths in the body | Some types of worms actively move through the internal organs of a person, thereby causing coughing fits. | |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies (reflux, swallowing abnormalities, bronchoesophageal fistula) | The attacks are often accompanied by the release of vomit. | |
| Constant psycho-emotional stress | The pathological condition develops against the background of loneliness, frequent family quarrels, prolonged depression. Rare coughs persist throughout the day, during sleep and eating, they disappear. | |
| Wet | Bronchial asthma | The disease is formed as a result of the entry of a pathological agent into the respiratory tract. During the attacks, severe suffocation appears, which provokes bronchospasm, transparent sputum is separated in small quantities. |
| Sinusitis / antritis | With purulent inflammation of the sinuses, accumulated mucus enters the pharynx, causing a reflex cough. The lower respiratory tract is absolutely healthy. | |
| Bronchitis | After the therapy, the cough can be observed for 2 weeks. Thus, there is a natural cleansing of the respiratory system from the remaining phlegm. | |
| Acute bronchotracheitis | This pathology provokes an increase in the production of mucus in the bronchi. |
Why is a persistent cough, dry or with phlegm, dangerous for a child?
Persistent cough, especially in the absence of additional symptoms (runny nose, fever), cannot be ignored. This condition may indicate serious pathological processes in the body.
When a baby coughs for the second month, it provokes a weakening of the immune system and thermoregulation functions, which in the future will lead to frequent colds and infectious and inflammatory diseases. If a child goes to kindergarten or school, the risk of infection with various bacterial infections is greatly increased.
In addition, the nervous system suffers, efficiency and concentration of attention decrease. As a result, there is rapid fatigue, constant fatigue, nervousness and irritability.
Diagnostic methods
A lingering cough in a child should be diagnosed by specialists (for more details, see the article :). Where and how can a baby be examined? When this symptom persists for 2-3 weeks, the first step is to go to see the pediatrician. He will listen to the lungs and bronchi, assess the degree of breathing hardness, and also determine if wheezing and other extraneous sounds characteristic of pathologies of the respiratory system are present. For a correct diagnosis, diagnostic tests will be required:
- X-ray;
- computed tomography;
- bronchoscopy - a detailed study of the bronchial mucosa;
- sputum analysis - allows you to identify the causative agent of the pathology;
- spirography - the examination consists in measuring the volume of the lungs;
If you suspect pneumonia, the child must be x-rayed of the lungs (we recommend reading :) At the discretion of the doctor, consultations of narrow specialists can be prescribed - an allergist, otolaryngologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist. If the patient has heart and gastrointestinal diseases, it is additionally necessary to undergo an ultrasound of the heart and abdominal cavity, an electrocardiogram, an EGD and an echocardiogram.
Features of the treatment of cough, depending on its cause
What if a prolonged cough does not go away for a long time and lasts for several weeks? Parents buy all kinds of mucolytic drugs, but the effect of their use is not observed.
When a child has been coughing for more than a month, hospital treatment is often required, such as for acute bronchitis or whooping cough. Such diseases occur with an increase in body temperature and develop rapidly, which can lead to serious complications.
In order for the therapy to bring quick results, one dose of medication is not enough, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment, which includes physiotherapy, daily inhalations, warming compresses, massage. How long the disease will last will depend on the performance of all these manipulations.
Drug therapy
The course of drug therapy depends on the cause that provoked the prolonged cough. For example, if a pathological condition has developed against the background of an allergic reaction, the doctor will additionally prescribe antihistamines, and in case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics. The course of therapy usually lasts from a week to 10 days.
Any medication for the treatment of cough can only be given after consulting a doctor. | Group of drugs | Therapeutic action | Name of medicines |
| Antibiotics | They have an anti-inflammatory effect. They destroy viruses and bacteria, prevent their reproduction. |
|
| Antihistamines | They inhibit the development of an allergic reaction, relieve swelling of the respiratory tract. |
|
| Hormonal | Hormones are indicated for a complicated course of the disease (with acute or obstructive bronchitis), such drugs are prescribed for inhalation. Restore breathing, eliminate shortness of breath. |
|
| Mucolytics | Recommended for the transition of dry cough to productive. Expectorants thin the phlegm and promote its rapid elimination. | With a dry cough:
With a wet cough:
|
| Multivitamins | Increase immunity and body resistance. |
|
Inhalation and compresses
Inhalation helps to accelerate the discharge of phlegm and its liquefaction. After the procedure, breathing is much easier, coughing attacks occur less often.
Inhalation has a positive effect on the healing process, allowing you to get rid of cough much faster The medicine is sprayed using a special device - a nebulizer. When inhaled, it enters the bronchi and begins to actively act, suppressing inflammatory processes. For inhalation, use a saline solution and a medicine, for example, Ambrobene.
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and warming agents are compresses that are done before bedtime. They are applied to the chest area. However, such procedures are not recommended for newborns and children under one year old. For compresses use:
- saline, soda or alcohol solution;
- mineral water;
- infusions of medicinal herbs;
- special ointments (turpentine ointment, Doctor Mom, Breathe, etc. (see also :).).
Massage
To improve the discharge of sputum and prevent the development of complications, young children need to have a drainage massage. It is better if it is carried out by a qualified doctor, but when this is not possible, you can cope on your own.
For the procedure, use a special oil or baby cream. The child lies on his stomach, after which massaging movements are performed:
- light stroking;
- rubbing / kneading;
- vibrating slapping.
To improve sputum discharge, doctors recommend drainage massage procedures. Folk remedies
If a long cough does not go away, and nothing helps, you can treat the baby with the help of traditional medicine recipes. Consult your doctor before using them to prevent complications. Popular folk remedies:
- rubbing with honey, goat or badger fat (for more details in the article:);
- wheat bran boiled with calcined sugar - taken orally hot several times a day;
- make an infusion of raisins (50 g per 1 liter of water), add 60 ml of onion juice to it, take orally during the day;
- boil chopped onions with honey and sugar, use the mixture inside 1 tbsp. 3 times a day.
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion on a lingering cough
According to O.E. Komarovsky, a well-known pediatrician, a dry cough should turn into a wet one in 2-3 days. If this does not happen, then the prescribed treatment is incorrect. You should consult your doctor again, as a dry cough without an increase in body temperature can be caused by a bacterial infection.
Komarovsky does not advise often giving a child mucolytic drugs, even if he has been coughing for more than a week. In babies up to 2-3 years old, they provoke a prolonged cough. To normalize the condition, it is enough to provide abundant drink and a constant flow of fresh air, daily walks and physical activity.
If the cough persists, there is a likelihood of re-entry of pathogens into the body against a background of weakened immunity after a respiratory illness. Developing as a residual phenomenon, the symptom can bother a person during the recovery period. During this time, the lungs and bronchi are completely cleared of accumulated phlegm. If the cough syndrome does not go away for 2 weeks, there is a reason to see a doctor again. At the same time, an unpleasant ailment often indicates a serious pathology in the body. What to do if the cough does not go away for a long time, the attending physician will tell you after an individual consultation.
A prolonged cough without fever is an involuntary reflex that occurs in response to the action of a certain stimulus. The development of such an unpleasant symptom often signals that an infection of a bacterial, viral or allergic nature has entered the body. The cough does not go away for a long time also due to the fact that a foreign object or substance has got into the breathing path.
When coughing up, the bronchi are cleared of mucus containing a pathogenic agent. Having got rid of the accumulated phlegm, the symptom stops, but not for long. This condition indicates wet cough syndrome, when the body is already on the way to recovery. It's much worse when you can't clear your throat. In this case, a dry cough develops in an adult or child. Getting rid of it is quite problematic. Often it drags on for a long period of time, during which the body is significantly weakened and depleted.
Why doesn't the cough of an adult and a child go away? A persistent cough often signals the development of a complication after the underlying disease or due to the addition of a secondary infection. In the first case, the causes of such an unpleasant symptom develop as a result of an incompletely cured respiratory disease, as well as due to illiterately prescribed therapy. In the second, the causes of the disease can signal the ingress of pathogenic agents into the body against the background of a weakening of immunity after an illness.
In this case, the main harmful microorganisms are:- Viruses.
- Bacteria (eg, pneumocystis, tuberculosis bacteria).
- Fungi (candida, chlamydia).
Often, a prolonged cough in adults indicates the occurrence of an allergic disease, the source of which is a wide variety of pathogens:
- wool, saliva or dander of domestic and wild animals;
- dust mites;
- bird feather (down);
- pollen of flowering plants (indoor and garden);
- Food;
- materials made of artificial fabrics;
- household and decorative cosmetics, etc.
The situation becomes much more complicated if from two to several pathogens enter the body. In this case, the symptom can drag on for a long time, while the treatment lasts much longer than usual. How to treat a lingering cough in case of allergies, the doctor will tell you based on the results of diagnostic measures.
Test: Does your lifestyle cause lung disease?
Time limit: 0
Navigation (job numbers only)
0 of 20 tasks completed
Information
Since almost all of us live in cities with very unfavorable conditions for health, and in addition to this we lead the wrong way of life, this topic is very relevant at the moment. We perform many actions, or vice versa - we are inactive, completely without thinking about the consequences for our body. Our life is in breath, without it we will not live even a few minutes. This test will determine whether your lifestyle can provoke lung disease, as well as help you think about your respiratory health and correct your mistakes.
You have already taken the test before. You cannot start it again.
The test is loading ...
You must login or register in order to start the test.
You must complete the following tests to start this one:
results
Time is over
You lead the right lifestyle
You are an active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle and your body will delight you throughout your life. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and strong emotional overload. Try to minimize contact with sick people, in case of forced contact, do not forget about protective equipment (mask, washing hands and face, cleaning the respiratory tract).
It's time to think that you are doing something wrong ...
You are at risk, it is worth thinking about your lifestyle and starting to take care of yourself. Physical education is mandatory, or even better, start playing sports, choose the sport that you like most and turn it into a hobby (dancing, cycling, gym, or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu in time, they can lead to complications on the lungs. Be sure to work with your immunity, temper yourself, be outdoors and in the fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations, it is much easier to treat lung diseases in the initial stages than in a neglected state. Avoid emotional and physical overload, smoking or contact with smokers, if possible, exclude or minimize.
It's time to sound the alarm!
You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the work of your lungs and bronchi, have pity on them! If you want to live a long time, you need to radically change your whole attitude towards the body. First of all, be examined by such specialists as a therapist and pulmonologist, you need to take drastic measures, otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the recommendations of doctors, radically change your life, it may be worth changing your job or even place of residence, absolutely exclude smoking and alcohol from your life, and reduce contact with people who have such addictions to a minimum, temper, strengthen your immunity as much as possible be outdoors more often. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely exclude all aggressive products from household circulation, replace with natural, natural products. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and airing at home.
- With the answer
- Marked as viewed
Question 1 of 20
1 .
Is your lifestyle associated with heavy physical activity?
Question 2 of 20
2 .
How often do you have a lung exam (eg fluorogram)?
Question 3 of 20
3 .
Do you go in for sports?
Question 4 of 20
4 .
Do you snore?
Question 5 of 20
5 .
Do you treat acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, flu and other inflammatory or infectious diseases?
Question 6 of 20
6 .
Do you practice good personal hygiene (shower, hands before meals and after walking, etc.)?
Question 7 of 20
7 .
Do you care about your immunity?
Question 8 of 20
8 .
Have your relatives or family members suffered from serious lung diseases (tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia)?
Question 9 of 20
9 .
Do you live or work in an unfavorable environment (gas, smoke, chemical emissions from enterprises)?
Question 10 of 20
10 .
Do you or your household use sources of strong odors (aroma candles, incense, etc.)?
Question 11 of 20
11 .
Do you have heart disease?
Question 12 of 20
12 .
How often are you indoors with damp or dusty conditions, mold?
Question 13 of 20
13 .
Do you often get sick with acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory infections?
Question 14 of 20
14 .
Do you or any of your relatives have diabetes?
Question 15 of 20
15 .
Do you have any allergic diseases?
Question 16 of 20
16 .
What is your lifestyle?
Question 17 of 20
17 .
Does anyone in your family smoke?
Question 18 of 20
18 .
Do you smoke?
Question 19 of 20
19 .
Do you have air purification devices in your house?
Question 20 of 20
20 .
Do you often use household chemicals (cleaning products, aerosols, etc.)?
A long-lasting cough in an adult is a symptom of any pathology. Its main manifestations are the regular nature of coughing throughout the day, as well as an attack of lingering cough with mucus elimination.
How are the manifestations of a lingering cough in an adult treated? Therapy of pathology depends on the type of symptom.
By nature, there are two main types of cough reflex:- Prolonged dry cough.
- Wet cough.
- acute (persistent cough for more than one week);
- protracted (cannot pass for a long time - not more than a month);
- subacute (severe cough that has not gone away for 1-2 months);
- chronic (lingering cough in adults and children, lasting over 2 months).
To cure a lingering cough in an adult is much more difficult than an acute symptom. That is why experts do not recommend postponing the treatment of the disease.
If the diagnosis is made in time and the therapy of pathology is started, it will be possible to get rid of a lingering cough as soon as possible.
It often develops on the first day of ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection), as well as during the recovery period. A prolonged cough is a contraction of the smooth muscles of the bronchi caused by severe irritation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, bronchial tract or trachea.
A dry cough does not go away for a long time in an adult for a variety of reasons. He begins to bother a person immediately after the infection enters the bronchopulmonary tract. On the first day, the patient has a sore throat, which leads to coughing. After a few days, the patient begins to cough up, which indicates a speedy recovery. However, this does not always happen. If the cough does not go away for a long time with tracheitis, there may be a prolonged dry cough that is not coughing up.
If a dry cough does not go away a few days after the onset of a respiratory illness, as well as after recovery, it becomes lingering.
As a result of an overly prolonged symptom, the body is significantly weakened, which increases the risk of re-infection.
Special attention should be paid to the treatment of lingering cough in adults and children. Therapy of the pathological process consists in the use of mucolytic drugs. The action of their main components contributes to the speedy production of sputum.
Moist coughA wet cough is characterized by the discharge of sputum from the bronchi with the development of pathology of the bronchopulmonary system. In the process of coughing up, the body tries to clear the accumulated mucus in the nasopharynx, as well as in the bronchial passages. A wet cough just allows you to remove a huge amount of phlegm. This process is called expectoration. It can be very difficult for young children to cough up because the viscous mucus makes it difficult to breathe and can get stuck in the throat.
A wet, incessant cough is most often observed as a result of a running course of a cold or an infectious disease.
- Transparent mucus of normal consistency signals a cold.
- A prolonged brown cough often indicates the development of pneumonia - an infectious pneumonia.
- A transparent wet cough of a thick (but not usual) consistency in most cases is a consequence of the development of bronchial asthma.
- An expectorant cough of an unpleasant, pungent odor in conjunction with the discharge of purulent contents from the bronchi may signal the progression of tuberculosis, lung abscess, or chronic bronchitis.
Situations are often observed when, during the recovery from an infectious disease, there is a wet cough without fever in an adult or a child. A persistent cough is possibly a consequence of the removal of residual mucus from the bronchi, when the disease has practically passed, while the symptom still bothers the person due to the drainage of the remnants of mucus along the back wall of the nasopharynx.
It is possible to treat a prolonged cough with the help of special expectorant and antibiotic drugs. In the latter case, potent drugs are prescribed when a bacterial-type infection is attached.
If the cough does not stop for a week, this process should not cause much concern. With properly prescribed treatment, approximately this amount of time is required for a complete recovery from a respiratory illness. With an infectious pathology of the bronchopulmonary system, it may take some more time (usually several days) to get rid of the residual effects of the bronchial tract.
When the cough does not go away for about a week or two, you should consult your doctor again. In this case, the development of a complication or the addition of a secondary infection is likely.
Why doesn't the cough go away for two weeks or more?
Experts refer to the main provoking factors of this phenomenon:- Disease of a cold or infectious nature.
- Increased allergic reaction.
- Reducing the body's resistance to stress.
The above reasons can lead to the progression of the symptom, regardless of whether the cough is wet or dry.
How to cure a lingering cough if it does not go away for a long time?
In this case, therapy will be prescribed depending on the underlying disease:- with a persistent symptom caused by a cold, the patient is prescribed special antiviral drugs, and in addition, plant-based drugs that have an expectorant effect. According to indications, immunomodulating medications can be taken;
- when an adult's paroxysmal cough does not go away, and the body temperature rises to febrile levels, there is a risk of developing pneumonia or acute bronchitis. How to treat a lingering cough, the doctor will decide, however, the main group of medications will be antibiotics - potent drugs aimed at destroying the bacterial pathogen of the pathology;
- when a prolonged cough appears as a persistent manifestation of bronchial asthma, antiallergic drugs come to the patient's aid. They allow you to stop the body's reaction to an external or internal stimulus.
In some cases, the reason why a long dry cough does not go away for about a few weeks is that a foreign object has got into the respiratory system.
The main recommendation in such a situation is also to consult a doctor. As a rule, it is not necessary to treat a prolonged cough. This is due to the fact that after removing a foreign object from the bronchial tract, the symptom goes away on its own.
Why can a cough bother a person for a month? Cough with phlegm does not go away for a month as a result of severe infectious diseases. In this case, the symptom is often accompanied by other clinical manifestations of the pathology of the bronchopulmonary system.
The main ones are:- Increased sweating.
- Swelling of the upper and lower extremities.
- Feeling of nausea, vomiting.
- A sharp decrease in body weight.
- Discharge of mucus transparent or mixed with blood.
- Complete or partial loss of appetite.
- Respiratory distress, both during exercise and at rest.
- An increase in body temperature to febrile values.
- Deterioration of the general condition (lethargy, irritability, weakness).
- The patient feels pain in the chest, etc.
What if the cough does not go away for a month?
A wet cough may indicate the following serious pathologies:- chronic lung disease (such as tuberculosis);
- malignant neoplasm (for example, sarcoidosis or lung cancer);
- breakthrough of hepatic abscesses (in this case, a wet cough especially often worries a person at night);
- a disease caused by work in a hazardous production;
- chronic inflammation of the pleura, bronchi or lungs;
- chronicity of pathologies of the nasopharynx (for example, sinusitis);
- severe heart failure;
- asthma of the bronchial type.
When a dry cough does not go away for about a month, there is a risk of developing a chronic form of serious damage to the bronchopulmonary region (for example, chronic tracheitis).
Also, a long-lasting dry cough develops as a result of smoking abuse over a long time interval.
What if the cough does not go away for a long time? Treatment for a lingering cough depends on the nature of the underlying disease. If the cough syndrome does not go away for a long time, the patient is prescribed medications aimed at destroying the pathogen of the pathology.
When the cough does not go away for more than a month, there is a likelihood of developing heart, pulmonary, gastric failure, as well as malignant neoplasms in the pulmonary region. A wet or dry cough does not go away for more than a month also due to immunodeficiency, tuberculosis or bronchial asthma. Prolonged adult cough - how to treat it? In addition to the main group of medicines, the patient is prescribed the intake of immunomodulatory agents that increase the body's defenses.
A serious reason for going to the doctor is a situation when a cough with phlegm does not go away within a month after a cold. With the help of cough spasms, a natural cleansing of the respiratory system from foreign particles occurs, while, in order to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, sputum is produced in the body. Thus, sputum is the secretion of the body, which occurs during an illness, and then necessarily passes. Its long-term production may indicate a relapse of the disease.
There are many reasons why a coughing up phlegm may continue even though the cold itself has stopped. In any case, a long period of sputum formation requires immediate medical attention to exclude serious pathological processes.
There are few reasons why coughing up phlegm does not indicate the presence of a cold. First of all, treatment is not required if such a symptom occurs in people in old age, since this may indicate dehydration. To solve the problem and get rid of the unpleasant symptom, you should include more liquid in the diet. A characteristic increase in sputum secretion will be during pregnancy, this is due to heartburn, from which women often suffer in position. Nevertheless, secretion of secretions should not be accompanied by a cough, since heartburn does not cause spasms.
In most cases, a cough with sputum may not pass through various pathological disorders in the human body. Each of them requires the patient's close attention and referral to a specialist for treatment. The main sources of this problem include:
Not two weeks go by
The cough usually does not go away within two weeks of an untreated respiratory infection. In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will make sure that there are no other pathological phenomena in the body. This type of cough is called post-infectious, its mechanism is expressed in the continuation of inflammatory processes and the presence of irritation on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. Because they have been damaged by the disease, they do not recover very quickly. In some cases, the cough can last up to a month.
In the event that such phenomena are residual signs of a cold, mucolytic drugs should be used, in particular syrups and special lozenges, which will stop attacks. In no case is it recommended to engage in treatment on your own, since only a doctor, after a thorough examination, will determine the presence of post-infectious cough and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen with special drugs.
What to do if the cough lasts a month or more
When the duration of the cough syndrome reaches four weeks and does not tend to stop, seeking medical attention is a prerequisite for proper treatment. First of all, you should exclude possible complications after the treatment of colds, which often spill over into such serious pathological processes as pneumonia or an abscess of the respiratory system. It is possible to determine the presence of such pathologies with the help of tests and radiography. If complications of this kind are detected, the patient is shown hospitalization to be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
If a prolonged cough still refers to a post-infectious one and does not indicate the presence of any pathological processes in the body, the doctor prescribes treatment with various mucolytic drugs in the form of syrups and tablets. In addition, inhalation with a nebulizer using saline or any mucolytic drug will help to cope with syndromes of this kind. Thus, sputum discharge will pass faster, and the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, affected during a cold, will recover.
A cough that lasts more than four weeks may also indicate an allergic reaction of the body to any external stimuli, and a recent infection will be just a coincidence. In this case, the intake of antihistamines and the maximum rejection of bad habits are indicated. In particular, get through.
If you have a dry cough
A lingering dry cough is often indicative of inappropriate treatment. In the event that this symptom is caused by an infectious nature, the correctly selected medicine will contribute to the onset of sputum discharge a maximum of a week after the start of treatment. If the only symptom of a cold infection is more than two weeks, it makes sense to see your doctor to change your treatment strategy.
In addition, it can cause incomplete treatment when the doctor's prescriptions are not fully followed.
Any catarrhal disease, be it of a viral or infectious nature, is treated in a comprehensive manner. If the patient neglects the whole treatment regimen, preferring one-time actions in the form of mustard plasters before bedtime, then a dry cough may be too long.
If you cough up phlegm
When cough spasms with phlegm do not go away for a long time, despite following all the doctor's recommendations, it makes sense to contact him for a second examination. Usually, such a lingering cough, which is accompanied by a wet effect, is not a diagnosis, but only a consequence of some ailment that is in the body and does not disappear, despite treatment.
The cough with phlegm does not go away for a long time for the following reasons:
Which doctor should I go to?
The duration of a cough with a disease depends on many factors. In particular, from the reason that caused it. In the event that such a symptom does not go away for a long time, namely more than a month, it makes sense to talk about the so-called chronic variant of the disease. At the same time, it can periodically disappear, go into remission, and worsen, causing unpleasant discomfort.
In this case, you should immediately contact your GP, who will try to find the cause. A study is usually carried out using laboratory tests, as well as radiography, which in turn will allow to determine the affected areas of the lungs, provided there is an infectious lesion.
If the course of treatment prescribed by the therapist does not bring results, it makes sense to look for a more narrowly specialized specialist, a pulmonologist. Such a doctor deals with any problems of the respiratory tract, which often lead to the onset of a cough of a different nature.
Thus, a prolonged cough, whether dry or with the formation of phlegm, is usually the result of various pathological processes, untreated colds or allergic reactions of the body to external stimuli.
The cough itself is a reflex, which is caused by the appearance of any pathogen - viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic. During coughing, an involuntary contraction of the respiratory muscles occurs. The cause of the cough may or may not be serious. The body, through a cough reflex, tries to clear the upper respiratory tract from the irritant that has got into them.
Many people, when they come to see a therapist, complain that the cough does not go away. What to do in such situations, what tests to pass in order to identify the cause of this condition?
First you need to find out what types of cough exist and what are their features.
Types of cough
Depending on the duration, there are:
- acute cough. Usually dry. After a few days, it turns into a productive cough (with sputum discharge) or passes on its own;
- lingering cough. Lasts at least 20 days, but does not exceed 3 months;
- chronic cough. Lasts longer than 3 months and appears periodically throughout the year, regardless of the season.
Physiological cough
This type of cough does not have a pathological basis and is absolutely normal in the life of every person. In addition, a cough is even necessary for the human body to cleanse the lungs and bronchi from mucous accumulations and various foreign bodies trapped in the respiratory tract. An absolutely healthy person can cough up to 25 times a day. Especially physiological cough is manifested in the morning.
Most often, parents succumb to panic when they notice that the child's cough does not go away for a long time. They mistake a physiological cough for a pathological one. In infants, during feeding, food can enter the trachea, which provokes the development of a cough reflex. Also, newborns often cough when crying. For older children (6 months and older), they use coughing as a way to draw attention to themselves from adults. Parents are not encouraged to overreact to this phenomenon. Indeed, from such a reaction, this child's habit can only be strengthened.
Pathological cough
Such a cough becomes a consequence of the development of various diseases. If the physiological cough is of the same type, then the pathological cough may have a different nature and severity of the course, depending on the specifics of the pathology that caused it. Assessment of the characteristics of a pathological cough is extremely important for the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease. Pathological cough has a fairly large number of varieties, which will be described below.
Productive cough (wet)
It is characterized by excessive sputum production. It can develop due to various pathologies, for example, bronchitis or pneumonia, as well as due to the accumulation of fluid in the airways that has entered them from the cavity of a ruptured cyst. In the expectorated sputum, there may be an admixture of blood, mucus and pus.
Unproductive cough (dry)
This cough does not go away for a long time, if you do not find out the nature of its origin and begin to be treated. He, as a rule, does not bring relief to the person. May occur due to:
- pneumothorax;
- the development of the pathological process in the tussigenic zones;
- the development of diffuse processes in the lung tissues;
- the development of a disseminated process in the lungs;
- development of benign and malignant neoplasms;
- the development of metastatic tumors;
- the development of cancer;
- development of tuberculosis.
"Barking" cough
This cough is often accompanied by hoarseness and attacks of aphonia. In most cases, there is:
- when the tumor compresses the trachea;
- with the development of inflammatory processes in the tissues of the vocal cords and larynx;
- with attacks of hysteria;
- with the development of whooping cough;
- with croup (true and false);
- with the development of laryngitis.
Bitonal cough
Most often it develops in childhood with a narrowing of the lumen of one of the bronchi. As a result, the speed of the air flow changes, which leads to a change in the height of the cough tones.
Whooping cough
This type of cough occurs mainly at night. It is characterized by frequent intense coughing. In between, there are deep and loud sighs. After attacks, vomiting may begin due to excessive irritation of the vomit cent.
Recurrent cough
Such a cough does not go away for a long time and appears at regular intervals. Its presence is typical for smokers (mainly in the morning), as well as for the following pathologies:
- emphysema of the lungs;
- ARVI;
- bronchial asthma;
- pneumonia.
Coughing
Represents short and mild cough tremors, indicating the prolonged presence of an irritant to the cough receptors. Often observed in the presence of:
- pulmonary tuberculosis;
- circulatory disorders;
- pharyngitis, chronic;
- obstructive bronchitis, also chronic.
Silent cough
Cough tremors that are not accompanied by any characteristic sounds may indicate:
- about significant destruction of the vocal cords or their paralysis;
- about severe depletion of the body due to a long illness;
- about the development of syphilis;
- about the development of tuberculosis.
Spasmodic cough
This type of cough is characterized by the presence of spasms of the larynx and "whistling" sounds during cough shocks. In this case, the patient, in order to completely clear his throat, must make a lot of efforts. If such a cough occurs, it is recommended to take antispasmodic drugs and immediately call a doctor.
Persistent cough
Sometimes patients turn to doctors, complaining that their cough has not gone away for a long time. This may indicate disturbances in the work of the vascular system (poor blood circulation is noted), as well as the development of chronic diseases:
- trachea;
- pharynx;
- bronchi;
- larynx;
- lungs.
Harsh cough
Such a cough can appear with the development of the following pathologies:
- pleurisy;
- pneumonia;
- tracheobronchitis.
If the patient has a sharp cough that is not accompanied by a characteristic sound (soundless), a tracheostomy may be taking place.
Whooping cough
This type of cough is often accompanied by vomiting. At the same time, trembling chest sounds are heard during inhalation. Although the sputum goes away, the patient does not feel relief.
Symptoms accompanying long-term persistent cough
A cough, as a rule, is not the only warning signal for the development of a disease. It can be accompanied by the following symptomatic manifestations:
- hoarseness of the voice;
- nasal congestion;
- discomfort in the nasopharynx;
- wheezing in the lungs;
- a feeling of heaviness in the chest;
- belching;
- secretion of sputum (possibly mixed with blood, mucus, pus).
For what reason can a cough not go away for a long time?
People at the doctor's office often complain that the cough does not go away for a long time. What to do in such a situation? First of all, the specialist is trying to find out the reasons for its occurrence. Most often, they are not completely cured diseases or complications that have arisen after their cure.
The presence of a cough that lasts more than a month, in most cases, is characteristic of people who have a fairly long smoking history, and also are engaged in:
- industrial work associated with a large amount of waste in the form of dirt and dust;
- agricultural work. In this case, pleurisy occurs. This is due to the fact that you have to deal with moldy straw and hay;
- construction work. Here we are talking about the development of such a pathology as asbestosis.
A lingering or chronic cough may not only be evidence of the presence of a particular disease, but also be a residual phenomenon after the underlying disease is cured. If the cough does not go away for more than 3 months, an urgent visit to the doctor is necessary. Otherwise, a person runs the risk of becoming the "owner" of a chronic cough, for the treatment of which consultation of qualified doctors and a special approach are required.
So, a chronic or lingering cough can be a complication or a residual phenomenon of the following pathologies:
It is also worth noting that if the cough does not go away on its own for a long time, even after the disease that caused its development is cured, then the patient most likely has:
- complications after a viral disease and the addition of a secondary infection. This happens when bacterial diseases develop, for example, pharyngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia;
- provoking factors. For example, frequent alcohol consumption, smoking, insufficient amount of fluid intake, too low degree of humidity in the room;
- significantly weakened immunity.
Causes of persistent cough after colds
The main reason why a cough does not go away after a cold and torments a person for a long time is the destructive process that the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract have managed to undergo. After all, the cold itself could last only a few days, but the causative agents of infection during this short time have already managed to cause significant harm to the respiratory tract.
As a result of the above processes, the sensitivity of the bronchi increases and a sharp temperature drop, as well as inhalation of polluted and too cold air, can become provoking factors for the onset of coughing attacks. A person may be tormented by a dry, exhausting cough with scanty discharge. Also, a sore throat and periodic coughing can be a residual phenomenon of colds.
The residual phenomenon of a cold in the form of a cough is considered normal. However, if the cough does not go away for a month, the reasons may be completely different. Do not hope that this condition will pass on its own, consult a doctor for advice and for an examination.
Drug treatment
To relieve a patient of a chronic or lingering cough, doctors traditionally use drugs that have the following effect:
- expectorant;
- antispasmodic;
- decongestant;
- mucolytic.
Which drugs to prescribe, according to what scheme and in what dosage to take them, can only be determined by the attending physician.
Traditional methods of treatment
Inhalation
An excellent effect on chronic and lingering cough is given by the use of inhalations, in the preparation of which herbs are used:
- mother and stepmother;
- turns;
- wild rosemary;
- yarrow;
- plantain;
- eucalyptus.
Essential oils are also often used for the preparation of inhalations:
- rosemary;
- calamus;
- pine trees;
- lime;
- fir;
- sage.
In the absence of a nebulizer or inhaler, the procedure can be carried out by inhaling healing vapors over a saucepan, covering your head with a towel. The duration of each procedure is from 5 to 10 minutes. It is not recommended to go outside immediately after the end of the procedure. It is worth staying in a room with room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Warming compresses
For the preparation of warming compresses, animal fats are most often used:
- badger;
- interior;
- pork.
Also, warming ointments made on the basis of essential oils have proven themselves well. In order for the compress to give the most positive effect, it is necessary to rub the area of the chest and feet with the selected means, wrap these places with wax paper, and put on warm clothes on top. Keep the compress for at least an hour.
Radish and honey syrup
Cut off the top of the black radish to create the so-called "cap". Cut the flesh out of the second part of the radish so that it resembles a container. Place natural honey in the resulting cavity (it is permissible to replace it with sugar) and leave for several hours. Watch for juice in the radish. This liquid should be consumed 10 g twice a day. According to the cured people, such a folk remedy can cope even in cases where the cough does not go away for 2 months or more.
Milk-fig drink
A drink prepared on the basis of milk and white figs (dried or fresh) helps in the fight against a long-lasting cough. 3-4 pcs. figs need to prepare 300 ml of milk, which pour over the previously washed fruit. Put on low heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Then let it brew and take in a heated form, 50 g 5-6 times a day.
In conclusion, it should be noted that traditional methods of treating chronic and lingering cough can only be an auxiliary therapy. Only a specialist can prescribe competent treatment. Indeed, in each specific case, it will depend on the etiology of the formation of this pathology. If you have a persistent cough, be sure to visit a pulmonologist, allergist, phthisiatrician and ENT doctor.
The appearance of a cough is always an unpleasant event, because getting rid of this cold symptom is sometimes very difficult, despite the use of powerful pharmaceutical preparations. It often happens that this symptom lasts for months without losing its intensity, and one should not be negligent about such a manifestation - it can signal serious illnesses. What ailments can lurk in the body, if the cough does not go away for a long time in an adult, what to do and what drugs or herbal formulations to use?
The main causes of prolonged cough
Before starting the treatment of prolonged debilitating attacks, it is imperative to find out the reasons that prevent you from getting rid of the cough. There may not be so few of them, because this symptom does not always indicate a cold. It is better not to find out on your own, but to go to the doctor, who will help you understand the peculiarities of the disease and recommend the most effective method of exposure.
If the cough persists for a long time in an adult, what to do and what measures should be taken to stop it? Treatment should be started by finding out the reasons, which may be:
- improper intake of pharmacy drugs;
- stopping medication without waiting for a full recovery;
- mistakes in taking antibacterial drugs, which leads to relapses of the disease;
- the body's response to external or internal stimuli;
- infectious diseases;
- oncological diseases;
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- diseases of the digestive tract.
Treatment is usually prescribed depending on which disease is causing the persistent cough. In no case should you take antitussive medications without the agreement of a doctor - this threatens with unpleasant consequences for important organs.
What to do if the cough does not lose intensity
If an adult's cough does not go away for a long time, what to do, how dangerous is it for the body and what drugs or herbal formulations can cope with the problem? You should not in any case find out on your own and conduct experiments with drugs and alternative medicine - the consequences of this can be very unpredictable.
What to do to get rid of a prolonged cough? The first thing to do is go to the doctor and tell him about your problem. An experienced specialist will certainly find out the cause of this manifestation and prescribe the most effective treatment in an individual case.
The only thing you can do before visiting the doctor is to drink plenty of fluids. It is this measure that promotes the liquefaction of mucus accumulated in the respiratory organs. You can use clean water, herbal teas, tea, homemade fruit drinks. You should not delay contacting doctors - the sooner treatment begins, the more chances that you will be able to effectively get rid of painful coughing fits.
What drugs can be treated in the absence of complications
If, during the examination, the doctor did not find any complications or exacerbations, and a prolonged cough is caused by just a cold disease that was not treated in a timely manner, you can begin to influence this symptom. Usually, treatment is carried out with pharmaceutical preparations or herbal-based home remedies. You can combine them - this will only increase the effectiveness of the effect on a cold symptom and help to achieve a quick cessation of coughing.
Among pharmacy drugs, the most effective against prolonged cough are:
- Lazolvan;
- Bronchicum;
- Hepabene;
- Stopussin;
- Sinekod;
- Dr. Mom.
If a prolonged cough is caused by complications or inflammatory processes in the body, the doctor may recommend taking antibacterial drugs. They must be taken strictly as prescribed by the physician and in no case should you stop the course yourself. This will certainly cause a relapse of the disease and after a while the cough will reappear. It will be much more difficult to cope with it, and even powerful antibiotics may be powerless here.
What home remedies can be used against cough
Against the most intense cough, traditional medicine offers many remedies that quickly and effectively at home will get rid of the problem. One of these compositions - ginger root medicine... Just a few tricks will help you notice how the cold symptom begins to pass. The only condition for taking the drug is the absence of temperature. Otherwise, you will have to pick up another home remedy.
Preparation of the medicine:
- Peel, rinse and grind the ginger root (to prepare the product, you will need about 25 grams of gruel from the plant).
- Put a bag of tea in a container (it is recommended to take a green one), squeeze juice from a lemon wedge, gruel from ginger root.
- Pour the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water, close tightly, wrap with a towel.
- Insist the composition for half an hour, then add good honey (about 30 grams).
- Stir the mixture until the bee product is completely dissolved.
Drink the prepared ginger drink in one go. It is advisable to take the remedy at least 3 times a day. If the cough is too intense and causes the gag reflex, you can slightly increase the amount of home remedy used.
Mustard remedy is an effective way to get rid of a cough
Mustard powder is a spice that can be used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine. Most often this product is used for compresses or rubbing, but even when taken orally, it can provide invaluable help and will quickly get rid of the most painful cough. The remedy has no contraindications, but if the body reacts unpredictably to spices or herbs, it is better to refuse such treatment.
Preparation of funds:
- Put natural honey (50 g) in a water bath, heat the bee product until it becomes liquid.
- Add 10 gr. To honey. mustard powder, 20 gr. quality butter.
- Stir until smooth.
- Remove from the water bath, pour into a container that closes tightly and, after cooling, store in the refrigerator.
Take the prepared medicine with mustard several times a day. A single serving is only 10-15 grams. You should not exceed this amount of funds - this can lead to allergies. Usually, coughing attacks begin to lose intensity the next day. In no case should you stop treatment until the cold symptom completely disappears.
Banana cough medicine
It is possible to treat a prolonged cough not only with pharmaceutical preparations or homemade compounds that are unpleasant to the taste, but also with an appetizing banana-based remedy. It is simple to prepare it:
- Use a blender to turn the banana into a smooth puree (you can use a fork for this).
- Add 25 gr. To puree. good honey, 20 gr. butter, 10 gr. cocoa.
- Stir the mixture.
- Boil milk (320 ml), pour the prepared mass with hot liquid, stirring it vigorously with a spoon.
- Leave for a quarter of an hour.
Be sure to take the product hot, only 40 ml. The number of receptions per day is not limited, you can even drink it every hour. There are no contraindications for a banana-based medicine, the only thing that can become an obstacle to treatment is an allergy to dairy products. In such cases, you can replace milk with water, but the effectiveness of the composition will be significantly reduced.
What drugs or folk compositions can be used if the cough does not go away for a long time in an adult, what to do if the treatment does not give positive results - it is imperative to find out this only from specialists. We should not forget that self-medication does not always help to get rid of the disease, therefore, without the help of a doctor, you can get unpleasant consequences and even health problems.
Save your information.
Loading ...