A persistent cough can be caused by upper respiratory infections, chronic conditions, allergies, pneumonia, or smoking. Treatment options include cough suppressants and expectorants to ease chest congestion. Whooping cough is a common disease that affects young children.
A persistent cough is usually caused by the effects of an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis, or the flu. Other chronic conditions, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, can also produce a persistent cough. Seasonal allergies like hay fever can cause a persistent cough, and asthma can produce the same symptom. Viral or bacterial pneumonia can also cause a dry cough.
A dry cough in children can occur when the child experiences pertussis symptoms. Also known as whooping cough, whooping cough is a common disease that affects young children. This infection is caused by a strain of bacteria known as bordetella pertussis and affects the upper respiratory system. There may be bouts of uncontrollable coughing and this may be an intermittent condition which continues over the course of several weeks or even months.
Upper respiratory infections caused by the common cold or the flu, commonly known as the flu, can produce a persistent cough that lasts for one to two weeks. This is mainly due to the body’s natural defenses as it tries to remove mucus or fluid from the lungs. When an individual expels mucus from the lungs, this is known as a productive cough. A dry cough does not produce mucus or liquid.
Asthma and upper respiratory allergies can cause a persistent cough. When an individual suffers from nasal allergies, coughing is a way of discharging foreign bodies and irritants. Allergy cough often persists for the duration of seasonal symptoms. Many seasonal allergies occur at certain times of the year.
Many people who are heavy smokers may experience what is known as “smoker’s cough”. A smoker’s cough is characterized by a persistent cough. When an individual has smoked cigarettes for an extended period of time, irritants from the effects of nicotine and an excess of phlegm can accumulate in the throat, windpipe, and lungs. These contribute to the smoker developing a chronic and persistent cough.
Ways to treat a persistent cough caused by respiratory infections and allergies may include using cough suppressants or expectorants. Cough suppressants are useful for controlling a dry, dry cough. An expectorant can help ease chest congestion, thus making coughs more productive. In this way, the patient is able to effectively discharge the mucus from the lungs and bronchi.
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