What Does My Type of Cough Mean?

Why am I coughing?

An irritation in your airway is the most common cause of coughing. The nervous system sends a message when this happens. Your brainstem tells the muscles in your chest and abdomen to contract and expel air, which causes a cough.

A cough protects your body from harmful things.

• mucus
• There is smoke.
• Dust, mold, and pollen are all allergens.

You should read this to learn about the different types of coughs and the illnesses that may cause them.

Classifying types of coughs

Many types of illnesses and medical conditions can be caused by coughing. You can determine the cause of your cough by its characteristics.

The symptoms of coughs can be described.

• Behavior or experience: When and why does the cough happen? Does it occur at night, after meals, or during exercise?
• Characteristics: How does your cough sound or feel? Hacking, wet, or dry?
• Duration: How long have you had your cough? Has it been less than 2 weeks or more than 8 weeks?
• Associated effects: Do you have other symptoms such as vomiting, urinary incontinence, or sleeplessness?
• Grade: How bad is it? Is it annoying, persistent, or debilitating?

Sometimes an obstruction in your airway can cause a cough. If you or your child have swallowed something that is blocking the airway, you should seek medical attention.

Wet cough

A productive cough is when a wet cough brings up mucus from the lungs.

If you are having a wet cough, it may feel like there is something in the back of your throat. It may feel like something is in your throat or chest. mucus may get into your mouth from your coughs.

The following conditions can cause a cough.

• common cold or the flu
• Pneumonia.
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (The COPD is a disease.), chronic bronchitis, or emphysema
• Acute bronchitis.
• asthma

The duration of your cough may be a big clue as to its cause. Wet coughs can be acute, lasting for fewer than 3 weeks, or chronic, lasting more than 8 weeks in an adult.

Other symptoms include wet coughs.

• The nose is not straight.
• postnasal drip, or the excess mucus that drips from your nose down into your throat
• fatigue

Wet coughs sound wet because of the moisture present when mucus comes up from your respiratory system.

Babies, toddlers, and children are more likely to have wet coughs if they have a cold or the flu.

Remedies for a wet cough

• Adults: Adults can use over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications for acute wet coughs, and some people may use honey to ease cough symptoms.
• Babies and toddlers: A cool mist humidifier can help relieve dryness in the surrounding air. It may also be helpful to use saline drops in your child’s nasal passages and then use a bulb syringe to clean the nose. Do not give any type of OTC cough or cold medication to babies or toddlers under age 2. It’s also not safe to give honey to children under age 1 due to the risk of infant botulism.
• Children: A clinical trial found that giving 1 1/2 teaspoons of honey a half-hour before bedtime can reduce cough and improve sleep in children ages 1 and older. You can also use a humidifier during the night to keep the air moist. You should speak with your doctor first if you want to use any OTC cough and cold medications as a treatment.

If your cough persists for more than 3 weeks, you may need to talk with a doctor about other treatments. A child’s wet cough is considered chronic after 4 weeks.

Dry cough

“A dry cough is a cough that doesn’t cause mucus to come up. It may feel like you have a tickle in your throat. This can cause hacking coughs.”

Dry coughs can be challenging to manage, and they may turn into long coughing fits. Dry coughs typically occur when there is inflammation or irritation in the respiratory tract, but there isn’t very much or any mucus to cough up.

Dry coughs can be caused by upper respiratory infections, including a cold or the flu.

Dry coughs can last for weeks or even months until a cold or the flu is over. Other possible causes of dry cough include:

• Inflammation of the laryngitis.
• sore throat.
• The air is called croup.
• tonsillitis is a disease.
• There is a problem with the sinusitis
• asthma
• There are allergies.
• gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disease of the stomach.
• medications, especially ACE inhibitors
• exposure to irritants such as air pollution, dust, or There is smoke.

COVID-19 and dry cough

A dry cough is a common symptom of COVID-19.

If you’re sick and think you may have COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:

• Stay home if you can.
• It is best to be away from your family and pets as much as possible.
• You should cover your coughs and sneezes.
• If you have to be around other people, wear a mask.
• Stay in touch with the doctor.
• If you end up going to the hospital, call ahead.
• You should wash your hands frequently.
• If you share personal or household items with other people, you will be putting yourself in a bad situation.
• Disinfect common surfaces often.
• You should monitor your symptoms.

Visit this resource page for more information about COVID-19.

Remedies for a dry cough

The causes of dry cough can be determined by the remedies.

• Adults: If you have a dry cough, throat lozenges, cough suppressants, staying hydrated, or using a humidifier may provide some relief.
• Babies and toddlers: In babies and toddlers, dry coughs don’t usually require treatment. A humidifier may help make them feel more comfortable. For relief from The air is called croup., you can bring your child into a bathroom full of steam or outside in the cool night air.
• Older children: You can use a humidifier to help prevent their respiratory system from becoming too dry. Older children may be able to use cough drops to soothe their sore throat.s.

If you have symptoms such as heartburn or pain in addition to a dry cough, you should speak with a doctor. You may need a prescription for antibiotics, asthma medications, or antacids, or you may need further testing to determine the cause of your cough. If you are taking any supplements or medications, make sure that you tell the doctor about them.

If a child’s cough continues for longer than 2 to 3 weeks, speak with your doctor to determine possible causes. Your child may need a prescription for antibiotics, asthma medications. or antihistamines.

Paroxysmal cough

A paroxysmal cough is a cough that’s characterized by intermittent attacks of violent, uncontrollable coughing. A paroxysmal cough feels exhausting and painful. People with a paroxysmal cough often experience difficulty breathing. They may even vomit.

Pertussis, which is also known as whooping cough, produces violent fits of coughing. This condition is caused by an atypical bacterial infection. A pertussis cough can turn into a paroxysmal cough during the second stage of the illness when coughing episodes occur more frequently, especially at night.

People make a noise when they cough during a whooping cough attack. This happens when they breathe in the air.

Babies are at a higher risk of contracting the disease than adults are. It is a serious disease and may be life threatening for babies.

For children ages 2 months and older, getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent contracting pertussis.

Other possible causes include:

• asthma
• The COPD is a disease.
• Pneumonia.
• Tuberculosis.
• The person is choking.

Remedies for a paroxysmal cough

People of all ages need to take antibiotics to treat the disease.

Since it is extremely contagious, any family members or caregivers of someone who has the disease should be treated. The best chance for a good outcome is to treat the disease early.

Other remedies for a paroxysmal cough include:

• A cool mist vaporizer is a good way to loosen mucus.
• reducing irritants in the home, such as dust or There is smoke.
• Eating small, frequent meals can reduce the chance of vomiting.
• drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated.

Croup cough

Croup is most commonly caused by a viral infection and occurs most often in children ages 5 and younger.

Croup causes the airway to swell. Young children already have narrow airway so if swelling further narrows it can be hard for them to breathe.

Croup causes a cough that sounds like a seal. It can cause swelling in and around the voice box, which can cause raspy breathing sounds or a raspy voice.

Because The air is called croup. causes breathing difficulties, it can create a concerning situation for both children and parents. Children may:

• Difficult breathing.
• Make loud noises during the process of breathing.
• breathe quickly

In severe cases of The air is called croup., children’s skin may become pale or bluish.

Remedies for a The air is called croup. cough

“Croup usually doesn’t need treatment. Home remedies can include.”

• “A cool mist humidifier is in the child’s bedroom.”
• The child can be in the bathroom for up to 10 minutes.
• The child can breathe in the cool air.
• The child is going to be taken out for a car ride with the windows down.
• giving children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat a fever
• Ensuring that the child gets plenty of rest and fluids.

A doctor may recommend using a breathing treatment to help open the airway. A doctor may prescribe a steroid to reduce inflammation.

When to see a doctor

“Sometimes coughs do not need a doctor’s visit. Depending on your age, health and the type of cough you have, you can see a doctor if you need to.”

Those who are living with certain lung diseases, such as asthma and The COPD is a disease., may need earlier or more frequent treatment.

If a child is having a cough, they should see a doctor or healthcare professional.

• have a cough that continues for more than 3 weeks
• have a prolonged or high fever
• “They become so out of breath that they can’t walk or talk.”
• Turn bluish or pale.
• They are unable to eat food.
• Are very tired.
• Make a loud noise while coughing.
• They are coughing and wheezing.

If you are having a cough, you should see your doctor.

• A cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks is called a cough.
• cough up some blood
• Have a high temperature of 100.4F.
• They are too weak to walk or talk.
• They are dehydrated.
• Make a loud noise while coughing.
• They are coughing and wheezing.
• Have a cough that makes it hard to sleep.

The takeaway

There are many types of coughs. The severity and duration of a cough can help determine the cause. A variety of conditions can cause cough, and it can be a symptom of many illnesses.

This article is in Spanish.