Cough Types, Causes, and Treatment | CSSPrepForum

Cough is annoying sometimes, but we should know what is cough. How is my cough different from others? What are the possible causes? How can I treat my cough with a specific medicine apart from taking tons of medicines? These are the questions that come into our minds when we suffer from this annoying ailment. Let s find answers to these questions from a pharmacist s point of view.

Cough is a natural, protective reflex action that our body produces to clear the mucous and irritants dust, allergens, or smoke from the airways. There are two types of coughs productive wet and non-productive dry cough. A productive cough produces mucous and phlegm from the airways and the lungs. Non- productive cough, also called dry cough, does not produce mucous or sputum.

It can be a symptom of many diseases like

a. Flu or cold

b. AsthmaIt is a health condition that involves airways constriction. It includes shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, chest pain, coughing attacks, etc. Cough, in this case, can be productive and non-productive. Most asthmatic patients have a non-productive dry cough.

c. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERDIt happens when the oesophagal lining is irritated by the backflow of the acid in the stomach. The inflammation and irritation can trigger your cough reflex.

d. Allergies, Coronavirus, and BronchitisThese conditions can trigger the cough reflex and, if treated properly, can be diminished within a week or 2.

Lisinopril and enalapril belong to ACE inhibitors, are used to lower blood pressure, and can activate the cough reflex.

When you hear a rattling sound while breathing due to an infection, arises yellowish or greenish mucous or sputum, it is called productive wet cough. Non-productive produces a scratchy and tickling sensation in the throat and does not produce mucous and phlegm sputum .

Two types of treatment can be helpful for the relief of cough.

OTC over-the-cough drugs are those drugs that are available in pharmacies without a doctor s prescription.

Two types of drugs can be used to suppress productive and non-productive cough.

a. An antitussive drug like,dextromethorphanis used to treat non-productive dry cough.b. An expectorant likeguaifenesinis used to treat productive wet cough.

Brands of Dextromethorphan in Pakistan:

Brands of Guaifenesin in Pakistan:

Natural expectorants like honey, menthol, oral hydration, ginger tea, and steam are used as an alternative treatment for the relief of cough. Children over the age of 12 months and under 12 years should not recommend using dextromethorphan and guaifenesin due to their side effects. Therefore, 1.5-2 teaspoons of honey 30 minutes before bedtime are usually advised to minimize cough and reduce the stickiness of the mucus in case of a wet cough. However, adults can use warm honey water to minimize sore throat and cough. Lozenges, including menthol, are also used to relieve sore throat and irritation. Ginger tea, steam, and oral hydration are used in wet coughs to minimize the stickiness of the mucus in the throat.

Cough syrups combined with antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and pain relievers suppress a cough and cold, flu, allergies, or other associated conditions. Patients should seek medical help if the cough continues for 3 weeks. The adverse effects associated with the use of anti-tussive and expectorants are dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, stomach pain, constipation, headache, nausea, and vomiting if taken in high doses . Cough syrups should not be given to children under the age of 12 years.

Sumaira Faizis a known pharmacist by profession and has done M.Phil. in Pharmaceutics. She has an experience in industry and retail setup. She loves writing articles and blogs about public health and issues produced by the misuse and polypharmacy in Pakistan. Through her blogs, she has involved herself in generating public awareness about medicines their right uses, right time, and right doses their equivalents counterparts , their alternatives, and their generics under the guidance of her respected teacher, Sir Syed Kazim Ali.

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