home Adviсe Infrequent cough. Etiology of cough. Atypical forms of pneumonia

Infrequent cough. Etiology of cough. Atypical forms of pneumonia

Every person has encountered a cough, and if it goes away with timely and correct treatment, there is nothing wrong with it. It’s another matter when the cough does not go away for a long time, the condition worsens or there are no changes, and painful attacks appear regularly.

Typically, this symptom accompanies various respiratory diseases, for example, a wet cough is always present with ARVI and other similar ailments, helping the lungs clear mucus containing harmful microorganisms. In this case, it is not surprising that the cough does not go away for a week, since even after complete recovery, the remaining symptoms are almost always present.

As a rule, coughing up sputum occurs almost from the very beginning of the disease. If a dry cough does not give way to a wet one, it is necessary to find out the reason for its occurrence and help the body cope with it. You should think about it if the cough does not go away for a month, since such a situation requires immediate contact with a specialist and examination.

Types of cough

There are several types of cough that occur depending on the disease that causes it. In addition to the usual division into two categories - dry and wet cough, it can also be divided according to severity. The difference between the two categories is that when wet, expectoration of sputum occurs, which removes all harmful substances from the body.

If the cough is dry, measures must be taken to moisten it and remove mucus.

Treatment is determined by the type of cough:

The duration of the illness may vary depending on the disease that caused it.

Sometimes it happens that in the absence of treatment, one type flows into another and reaches a chronic stage, when treatment is quite complex and lengthy.

Causes of prolonged dry cough

A long-lasting dry cough can be caused by many reasons. If it does not go away for more than a week and does not develop into a wet one, perhaps this indicates some serious illness. In addition to acute viral respiratory infection in adults, which often begins with the dry form of this symptom, the reasons that a dry cough does not go away may be the following:

It happens that a dry cough in an adult does not go away for a long time, despite the treatment received. This may be due to the tonsils, larynx or pharynx being affected.

In this case, the cough will be a reflex; there is no point in taking any expectorant or antitussive medications, since they will not bring relief. Doctors recommend treating the throat in such a situation, and the symptom will gradually disappear on its own.

Often the illness can remain for a long time after the illness. Especially often people with increased sensitivity of cough receptors find themselves in this situation. Although such a symptom does not require treatment, it is necessary to carefully monitor your condition and the intensity of the attacks.

For example, a dry cough after an acute respiratory infection can last more than a month, which leads to irritation of the respiratory tract and the formation of microcracks. Their appearance promotes the development of bacteria and microorganisms, which can cause a person to get sick again.

Features of residual cough

After an illness, a situation can often arise that a person is accompanied by a prolonged cough. It usually manifests itself as an infrequent cough, which is caused by irritated cough receptors.

This symptom lasts from a week to a month or more, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body:

Residual cough after an acute respiratory infection lasts longer than after other diseases. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to restore the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs affected by the virus. After recovery, residual effects are observed until they return to normal.

Gradually, the symptom should go away, but if a person is actively in contact with a large number of people at this time, there is a chance that he will get sick again. Often a person is lost when he has already recovered, but for some reason the cough does not go away for a long time. In this case, the main thing is not to start self-medicating for a non-existent disease; it is enough to just soften the throat so that it is not injured during attacks.

A cough almost always remains after the flu; normally it can last up to two weeks. If the symptom does not go away, you should consult a doctor to rule out serious complications of the disease.

The consequences of untreated flu can be very dangerous not only for health, but also for human life. You can relax if the examination results reveal no pathologies. The doctor will recommend emollient medications or folk remedies that will help reduce the frequency of attacks and speed up relief from residual symptoms.

A cough after a cold usually does not haunt a person constantly; it manifests itself under unfavorable conditions for the respiratory tract:

inhalation of frosty or too hot air;
being in a very dusty room;
when leaving the house in the cold and, conversely, when a person comes from the cold into the warmth.

This is due to the fact that the unrestored airways react to irritants that interfere with their strengthening. Often a person simply feels a sore throat, but there is no cough itself. This happens when the sensitivity of cough receptors is low.

Treatment of prolonged dry cough

Attacks cannot be ignored, even if a dry cough does not go away for 2 weeks or less. The exception is situations in which the attending physician has recommended waiting for the airway to recover after an illness before treating any residual cough.

If the cause is any disease, there is no standard recipe for how to treat such an ailment. Herbal inhalations can reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and cause mucus discharge, which will help cure a persistent cough and alleviate a person’s condition.

Herbs suitable for this procedure are the following:

Before doing anything, if the cough does not go away, you should definitely consult a therapist. Sometimes it is quite easy to cure it with the help of the simplest remedies, but they must be chosen correctly.

Self-medication may result in failure to make an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner, leading to complications and possibly missing time needed for treatment.

Taking expectorants. They allow you to liquefy mucus and remove it out, which promotes rapid recovery.
Antitussives. They suppress the receptors, which prevents muscle contraction and the release of air flow.
Herbal infusions and inhalations. They soften the throat, have a beneficial effect on the larynx and tonsils, preventing their excessive irritation.

It is impossible to say which drug is suitable in a particular case without examination and minimal tests.

You can decide on your own how to cure a residual cough if complications from the previous illness are excluded. In addition to inhalations with herbs, it is recommended to spend more time in the fresh air, if it is not very cold outside. In addition, it is necessary to ensure an optimal microclimate in the apartment - the air should be no warmer than 22 degrees, and the humidity should be 60-70%. This contributes to the normal functioning of the respiratory tract and their rapid recovery.

A prolonged cough can occur both after an illness and for reasons completely incomprehensible to a person. It is necessary to identify them in time and begin treatment so that such a habitual symptom does not develop into a serious disease.

To find out how long a cough lasts during ARVI, you need to determine the nature of the disease. The symptom occurs due to damage to the nasopharyngeal mucosa by an infection - adenovirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus, etc. In the absence of complications, already 2 days after infection, a dry cough becomes productive and completely disappears within 3-4 days. But if the infection penetrates the lower respiratory tract, the symptomatic picture is replenished with new signs. The cough becomes dry, barking, paroxysmal, suffocating, prolonged or chronic.

How long does a cough with ARVI last and why does it not go away for a long time?

ARVI is a group of viral respiratory diseases characterized by an acute course. Viral cough occurs as a result of damage to the upper respiratory tract by respiratory syncytial infection, coronaviruses, reoviruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, etc.

During the initial period of the disease, viruses multiply in the mucous membrane of the nose and larynx. This leads to rhinitis (runny nose), coughing attacks, and burning sensation in the laryngopharynx. You can understand how long it takes for a cough to go away with an uncomplicated ARVI by the presence of mucous discharge. With timely initiation of therapy, the symptom completely disappears within 5-6 days.

Very often, ARVI in adults is complicated by bacterial infections. Their penetration into the lower respiratory tract leads to inflammation of the bronchi, larynx, and trachea. Because of this, the cough becomes:

Protracted – lasts from 21 days to 3 months. Occurs as a result of bacterial damage to the ENT organs or allergic reactions to the penetration of irritating substances into the mucosa.
Chronic – lasts more than 3 months. Often becomes a symptom of chronic pathology.

The greatest health hazard is chronic cough, as it is provoked by the following diseases:

pulmonary tuberculosis;
bronchial asthma;
myocardial failure;
Chronical bronchitis;
postnasal drip.

For a long time, tuberculosis may no longer manifest itself, so if coughing attacks occur, you should consult a doctor.

Sometimes a cough is a symptom of allergic manifestations that occur against the background of rhinoconjunctivitis and hay fever. In this case, the disease is accompanied by lacrimation, sore throat, and severe swelling of the mucous membranes of the ENT organs.

Types of cough due to viral infections

Cough during a viral infection belongs to the category of catarrhal (inflammatory) manifestations of ARVI. Its character depends on several factors:

type of pathogen;
virus reproduction rates;
immune status;
presence of chronic diseases.

At the initial stage of ARVI, the cough is unproductive, that is, during coughing, sputum is not separated from the ENT organs. When taking mucolytic drugs, it becomes moist (productive), which ensures the cleansing of the airways from bronchopulmonary mucus (sputum).

Dry

An unproductive cough, a burning sensation in the throat and nasal cavity are the first symptoms of ARVI in adults. They arise as a result of non-purulent inflammation of the ciliated epithelium, which covers the surface of the nasopharynx and hypopharynx. To make the patient feel better, antitussives are prescribed.

A nonproductive cough during ARVI in an adult is accompanied by a feeling of sore and sore throat. When coughing, the sputum does not come out, but a deep chest sound occurs. Its appearance is associated with an increase in the sensitivity of cough receptors against the background of inflammation of the laryngopharyngeal mucosa.

A dry cough during ARVI is sometimes accompanied by a paroxysmal course. If his productivity does not increase within 2-3 days, the patient is prescribed mucolytics. They dilute bronchopulmonary mucus, which accelerates its removal from the ENT organs.

Wet

A productive cough during a cold indicates the beginning of recovery. In uncomplicated ARVI, sputum viscosity decreases 3-4 days after infection. A wet cough speeds up the clearing of viscous mucus from the respiratory system and also prevents its accumulation in the bronchi.

With non-purulent inflammation, the amount of mucus in the respiratory tract increases 7-10 times. If cough productivity does not increase within 3 days, the patient is prescribed mucolytics. Their untimely intake is fraught not only with the accumulation of sputum in the bronchi, but also with the addition of a bacterial infection. To speed up the coughing up of mucus during ARVI, take expectorant medications. They thin the mucus, increasing the amount of water in it. This helps to quickly remove mucus from the lungs.

Suffocating

If coughing attacks are accompanied by suffocation, this indicates complications of ARVI. The symptom occurs against the background of such diseases:

A suffocating cough during ARVI in young children becomes a manifestation of false croup, tracheobronchitis, and whooping cough. The appearance of foamy sputum indicates esophageal-bronchial fistulas.

Difficulty breathing indicates insufficient airway patency, that is, swelling of the mucous membranes. Similar manifestations of ARVI occur with severe complications - bronchitis, pneumonia.

Barking

A barking viral cough in a child is accompanied by chest pain, burning in the laryngopharynx, and hoarseness. It occurs as a complication of ARVI and signals tracheitis or laryngitis. The symptom indicates an infection of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, larynx and trachea.

Cough attacks during colds are caused by the following factors:

overstrain of the vocal cords;
inhalation of dusty air;
hypothermia;
drinking cold drinks.

If a symptom appears against the background of ARVI, it is accompanied by:

runny nose;
lack of appetite;
fast fatiguability;
feverish condition;
heat.

Cough attacks are especially dangerous for children under 12 years of age, since their internal diameter of the larynx is much smaller than that of adults. Severe swelling of the mucous membrane and vocal cords is fraught with false croup and suffocation.

Treatment options

Before treating a cough due to ARVI, you should make sure that there are no serious complications. To detect a bacterial infection, an x-ray and a bacteriological examination of a throat smear are performed. In the absence of sinusitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia, drug treatment is prescribed, which includes antiviral, antitussive, mucolytic and expectorant drugs.

Medicines for oral administration

Treatment of dry cough during ARVI involves taking antitussive tablets, syrups or drops. To eliminate concomitant manifestations of the disease, combined action drugs are used. They have antitussive, analgesic and mucolytic properties.

Medicines for ARVI in adults to eliminate non-productive cough:

Amtersol - relieves inflammation and accelerates the removal of phlegm from the lungs. It is used as part of complex therapy for ARVI for non-productive cough. Adults are prescribed 1 tbsp. l. syrup three times a day.
Broncholin sage - eliminates dry cough during ARVI, dilates the bronchi and destroys infection in the respiratory tract. Children over 10 years of age and adults are prescribed 10 ml of syrup no more than 4 times a day.
Codelac Neo - suppresses the cough reaction by inhibiting the functions of the cough center. For the treatment of ARVI, adults and children over 3 years of age are prescribed 25 drops 3-4 times a day.

For difficult to separate sputum, mucolytic and expectorant tablets are used. Drugs of the first group thin mucus, and the second group accelerate its coughing. The treatment regimen for ARVI includes:

Bronchosan - reduces the elasticity of bronchopulmonary mucus and relieves inflammation in the ENT organs. For viral infections, take 20 drops 3-4 times a day.
Ambroxol - thins mucus by increasing the amount of water in it. For long-term treatment of ARVI, take 1 tablet three times a day.
ACC - reduces the viscosity of sputum and accelerates its coughing. Children over 12 years of age and adults are prescribed 500 mg of the drug per day.
Fluditec - accelerates the clearing of mucus from the airways by stimulating the cough reflex. For effective expectoration of sputum, take 1 sachet three times a day.

Taking antiviral tablets helps eliminate inflammation and accompanying symptoms of ARVI. To destroy infection in the ENT organs, take Rimantadine, Grippferon, Tamivir, Arbidol.

External methods

Doctor Mom - stimulates blood flow to the lungs, relieves inflammation and has an antiseptic effect;
Turpentine ointment - thins bronchopulmonary mucus, relieves inflammation from the mucous membranes;
Theraflu - eliminates cough attacks during complicated ARVI, accelerates expectoration of mucus;
Vicks – reduces pain when coughing, relieves inflammation and thins mucus.

Rubbing with warming ointments is carried out only in the absence of bacterial complications and high temperature.

Pediatricians do not advise resorting to external therapy when treating ARVI in children under 2 years of age, since they are not yet able to effectively cough up sputum.

Inhalation therapy

Treatment of viral cough with inhalations shortens the recovery period by 1.5-2 times. To alleviate the patient’s condition and speed up the removal of mucus from the lungs, the following drugs are used:

bronchodilators - Atrovent, Pulmovent, Berodual;
mucolytic – Ambrobene, Lazolvan, ACC Inject;
anti-inflammatory - Rotokan, Tonsilgon N, saline solution with propolis.

Other methods

Physiotherapeutic treatment is often used to eliminate unproductive and persistent cough. Hardware procedures not only speed up the expectoration of mucus, but also increase local immunity. Some of them destroy the viral infection, which promotes recovery. Commonly used physiotherapeutic methods include:

UV radiation;
electrophoresis;
UHF and microwave therapy;
magnetotherapy.

To eliminate cough attacks during ARVI, they resort to drainage massage. It accelerates the removal from the lungs of not only mucus, but also purulent accumulations. This method of treatment is used for bronchitis and pneumonia.

Consequences of a prolonged cough

An unproductive, prolonged cough is fraught with serious complications of acute respiratory viral infections that arise due to the accumulation of sputum in the ENT organs. It contains organic substances that provide a breeding ground for microbes. The resulting bacterial infection provokes serious complications - pneumonia, pleurisy, sinusitis, pneumonia or bronchitis.

Frequent coughing attacks in children are fraught with suffocation, fainting, and hemoptysis. To prevent negative consequences, you need to contact a specialist if you notice symptoms of the disease. If the cough does not go away within 3 weeks, make an appointment with an ENT doctor or pulmonologist.

Causes of cough. Does cough always mean damage to the respiratory tract?

Indeed, in most cases, a cough indicates damage to the respiratory tract by some disease. At the same time, cough is often the symptom of the disease that forces the patient to see a doctor. The question: is a cough always a symptom of a disease of the respiratory system, is very interesting for a more detailed consideration. This is especially true for chronic cough. Before considering the list of diseases that can cause cough, we will provide a description of some characteristics of cough, in order to subsequently describe the different types of cough in various diseases. Knowledge of the basic features of cough in various diseases can be extremely important not only for medical specialists, but also for all people faced with this problem.

In order to determine the type of cough and whether it belongs to any disease, you need to pay attention to its main characteristics: duration, strength of the cough, the moment of the day when the cough is strongest, the cough is wet or dry, the nature of the sputum released when coughing, the timbre of the cough , the presence of other symptoms of the disease.

How long does the cough last?
From the point of view of clinical development, we distinguish between acute, protracted and chronic cough.
Acute cough – is present for a period of time up to 3 weeks. Acute cough is characterized by constancy of symptoms, that is, the cough is present almost all the time. Acute cough is characteristic of most acute respiratory viral infections (influenza, parainfluenza, MS infection, adenovirus infection), acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis. An acute cough, as a rule, is purely protective in nature and helps cleanse the body of germs and phlegm.
Persistent cough. Unlike an acute cough, a persistent cough lasts from 3 weeks to 3 months. A persistent cough is less persistent than an acute cough. It is quite possible for the cough to develop in waves (the appearance and disappearance of a cough after a few days) or for it to appear only at certain times of the day (for example, in the morning or at night). A lingering cough also most often indicates damage to the respiratory tract, however, unlike an acute cough, a lingering cough indicates a slow course of the disease and the possibility of its becoming chronic.
Chronic cough. The diagnosis of chronic cough is established when the cough continues for more than 3 months. Let us immediately note that a chronic cough can be a sign of very dangerous diseases: chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, heart failure, tumors of the lungs and respiratory tract, tuberculosis. Therefore, patients with chronic cough need the most careful examination and treatment. In some cases, chronic cough can occur in nervously ill people (without certain diseases of the respiratory system), as well as in people exposed to adverse environmental factors: dust, smoke, caustic gases. In smokers, a chronic cough can be either a sign of prolonged irritation of the bronchi by tobacco smoke, or a sign of one of the complications of smoking (bronchitis, lung cancer).
Chronic cough is usually not persistent. Chronic cough is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, as well as cough fixation, that is, the occurrence of cough at a certain time of day. Exacerbations of chronic cough are associated with exacerbation of the disease that caused it or with exposure to any irritating factors (cold air, dust, allergens) on the body.
Chronic cough, as a phenomenon, loses its protective role and can cause the development of certain disorders of the respiratory system: emphysema, bronchiectasis, spontaneous pneumothorax, cardiac dysfunction, hernia of internal organs, etc.

Strong or weak cough?
Typically, the strength of the cough depends on the severity of the disease: acute respiratory tract diseases are accompanied by a strong, “hysterical” cough. Chronic diseases are manifested by a mild cough (coughing). A particularly severe cough is characteristic of respiratory diseases such as whooping cough (convulsive cough), acute tracheitis or acute bronchitis caused by influenza or other acute respiratory viral infections. Coughing is often observed in chronic smokers, patients with chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. With a chronic cough, the transition from coughing to a hysterical cough always means a worsening of the disease.

At what time of day does the cough appear?
The appearance of a cough at a certain time of day can be a fairly characteristic sign of a particular disease. A cough that lasts all day is characteristic of acute respiratory infections (influenza, parainfluenza, whooping cough), as well as acute laryngitis, acute tracheitis, acute bronchitis. A cough that occurs in the morning is typical for patients with chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and lung abscess. Night cough is typical for patients with heart failure, lung cancer patients, and tuberculosis patients. Often, a night cough is the only symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, chronic sinusitis or chronic rhinitis. An allergic cough occurs any time upon contact with an allergen. Allergic cough and cough of asthmatics are characterized by a seasonal appearance in spring or autumn.

Wet or dry cough? What type of sputum?
The terms “dry” or “wet” cough require further clarification. It is customary to talk about a dry cough in cases where during a cough either no sputum is produced at all, or very scanty amounts of sputum are produced. A wet cough is accompanied by copious sputum production. Sputum is produced by the bronchi and trachea. Together with sputum, when coughing, microbes and their poisons are removed from the body. During many diseases, a transition from a dry cough to a wet one is often observed, as well as a change in the nature of sputum (for example, from watery to purulent). This change in the nature of the cough, as well as the change in the nature of sputum, depends on the natural development of the disease. With many viral infections (influenza, parainfluenza, MS infection), the cough is initially dry; the appearance of purulent sputum indicates that a bacterial infection has joined the viral infection - this development is typical for most acute respiratory viral infections.
Dry cough is also characteristic of chronic pharyngitis, the initial stages of pneumonia, lung cancer, initial forms of tuberculosis, gastroesophageal reflux (gastric juice from the stomach into the esophagus), chronic sinusitis, pleural diseases (systemic connective tissue diseases, tumors), for patients with heart failure , for allergy sufferers.
An important cough with copious discharge is characteristic of the final stages of pneumonia (lobar pneumonia), chronic bronchitis, and tracheitis. Very copious sputum production is observed with bronchiectasis.
The nature of the sputum also indicates the nature of the disease - watery sputum at the beginning of an acute respiratory infection indicates a “purely viral” infection, while purulent sputum is a clear sign of a bacterial infection. In heart failure, the small amounts of sputum produced when coughing is usually foamy and may be pink in color. The cough of patients with bronchial asthma is also accompanied by the release of scanty viscous, glassy sputum. The appearance of sputum mixed with blood (hemoptisia) is always an unfavorable sign. If there was bloody sputum only once or several times, then this is most likely a consequence of a blood vessel bursting during coughing. Chronic cough with bloody sputum may be a sign of heart failure, pulmonary tuberculosis, or lung cancer.

Timbre of cough
In some diseases, the timbre of a cough can be quite characteristic. In acute tracheitis, for example, a loud, chesty cough.
With whooping cough, the cough is painful, periodically interrupted by pauses with a loud sigh, which again turn into a cough.
The cough with laryngitis is rough and barking. Usually, along with a cough, patients with laryngitis also complain of hoarseness.
In chronic bronchitis, the cough is deep and muffled.
Patients with bronchial asthma complain of a severe, muffled, suffocating cough.

All of the cough characteristics described above may change during the course of the disease.

We are used to saying “I have a cold, I am sick, I have a cough.” But in fact, it is not some kind of independent disease, it is just a sign, a symptom that can manifest itself in many different diseases and conditions, dysfunctions of internal organs. Only by thoroughly understanding what causes a cough can you get a correct diagnosis and begin treatment for the underlying disease, the symptom of which is cough.

There may be several reasons why this happens, and the usual reasons for us - hypothermia, viruses and other misfortunes - are far from the only ones on this list.

Our throat and nasopharynx are lined with a very sensitive mucous membrane that performs many functions. It protects us from the penetration of dust particles, gases, plant pollen, and small microorganisms, a significant part of which belong to pathogenic microflora. But sometimes a failure occurs and our defense system does not work. This may be due to a decrease in immunity due to the presence of some other diseases, severe fatigue, or simply due to a very massive attack on our body by various external and internal factors. As a result, various irritating agents enter our respiratory tract. To get rid of them and cleanse the respiratory system, the body resorts to a protective mechanism - coughing.

With reflex irritation of the nerve endings, our tracheas begin to contract in order to push out the aggressor, and their glands produce a large amount of mucus, which we are accustomed to calling phlegm. This is how a cough appears and a person realizes that he is sick.

But if the mechanism of cough occurrence is generally clear, then it can have many reasons.

Among them are the following:

Since there are many reasons, the treatment of a disease or condition completely depends on what provoked the patient’s condition. Only after finding out this will the doctor prescribe treatment.

Cough treatment methods and medications used

Having figured out what causes a cough, you need to find out how and with what it can be treated.

For some of its types, treatment will be purely symptomatic, that is, it will be necessary to relieve the manifestations:

If there has been a thermal effect without burns to the respiratory tract, rinsing with a soda solution or inhaling it will help, but hot liquids should be avoided in every possible way.
The chemical effect will need to be neutralized; the necessary medications can only be prescribed by an experienced doctor familiar with such conditions.
For mechanical irritation of the mucous membranes, rinsing the nasopharynx with a weak (physiological) solution of sea salt works well. It will not only simply wash away all the harmful substances that have entered the human body, but will also disinfect the mucous membranes and relieve inflammation.
requires a special, comprehensive approach. It consists of eliminating exposure to the allergen, using antihistamines and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as local action on inflamed mucous membranes by washing, rinsing, etc.

The cough that requires the most attention is caused by inflammation or infection. The most important thing here is to figure out what exactly led to its appearance. The treatment depends on what the cause is.

Features of treatment:

Bacterial infection and severe inflammation can be destroyed by antibiotics, but they are powerless against viruses; special antiviral drugs will be required. When treating a disease caused by fungi with antibiotics, a dangerous growth of fungal infection can be achieved, since antibiotics contribute to the suppression and destruction of beneficial microflora. It also suppresses mycotic infection. So only a thorough identification of the cause of cough will help to understand treatment methods.
General recommendations for cough include the use of mucolytics and expectorants when wet, drinking plenty of fluids, bed rest, proper balanced nutrition, and staying warm.

You can learn more about coughing from the video:

What does a very strong cough mean and how to get rid of it?

The throat and nasopharynx should be rinsed, rinsed with emollient and disinfectant solutions, and inhaled. The simplest and most affordable remedy has proven itself to be excellent - a warm solution of salt and soda:

It is best to take sea salt; it contains many healing microelements that quickly reduce swelling and inflammation of the mucous membrane.
Soda has the ability to actively soften the throat, which is extremely necessary for constant urge to cough.
Iodine can be added to such a solution only if there is a source of purulent infection, since this powerful antiseptic has the property of drying out the mucous membranes, and this can lead to increased coughing, especially if it is of an allergic, mechanical, chemical or thermal nature.

Traditional medicine recommends using the healing properties of honey and milk. Bee products are good for coughs, but are prohibited for allergies. Adding honey and peasant butter or goat fat to warm milk makes this drink not only tasty, but also healing. It is good to use not only for coughs, but also for any colds, especially in young children.

Various teas also help greatly, for example, linden infusion with honey or tea with raspberries have an active diaphoretic effect, and also have a good effect on an irritated sore throat.

Having found out what causes a cough, you need to find out what consequences this can lead to. An allergic cough is very dangerous. If it is not treated promptly and correctly, it can lead to the development of bronchospasm, bronchial asthma, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock and even death.

The same can be provoked by mechanical, chemical and thermal effects. The last two can also lead to severe burns of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which in turn can lead to such deadly diseases as pneumonia and sepsis.

If you do not treat a cold cough, the disease will not go away on its own; at best, it will become chronic, and at worst, it will cause the development of serious complications.

Complications of a cold cough can be in the form of inflammation, severe conjunctivitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and in particularly advanced and dangerous cases it can be life-threatening with meningitis or other dangerous inflammatory diseases.

Whatever the nature of the cough, only timely seeking medical help and strict adherence to medical recommendations can lead to quick relief from it without any risky consequences.