Infectious causes
Viral infections: The most common cause of a cough is probably the common cold, but many other infections of the upper airways can lead to a cough and require antibiotics to recover. These include bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis. There are also many types of viral pneumonia that cause a cough.
Common colds and viral infections typically clear up in seven to 10 days. But for one in four adults, a cough can stick around long after other cold symptoms clear up. It may leave you wondering if you should seek medical care, whether you're still contagious or if there's an underlying issue.
In addition to lab tests, sputum or mucus from a cough can be visually examined to determine whether bronchitis is viral, bacterial, or both. Clear or white mucus often indicates a viral infection, while yellow or green mucus may suggest a bacterial infection.
As many as 20,000 viruses are expelled in an average cough, which may be sufficient to infect many people -- particularly those who are not vaccinated.
What are the symptoms of cough caused by a virus? The cough typically develops over a day or so, and may become quite irritating. Other symptoms may develop and include raised temperature ie over 38 degrees (fever), headache, body aches and pains. Cold symptoms may occur if the infection also affects the nose.
Occasional coughing is normal as it helps clear your throat and airway of germs, mucus and dust. A cough that doesn't go away or comes with other symptoms like shortness of breath, mucus production or bloody phlegm could be the sign of a more serious medical problem.
If you have whooping cough or pneumonia, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics.
Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial chest infections. They're not used for treating viral chest infections, like flu or viral bronchitis. This is because antibiotics do not work for viral infections. A sample of your mucus may need to be tested to see what's causing your chest infection.
Some coughs stick around after a cold or flu resolves — for up to 2 weeks or more — because your bronchial nerves are recalibrating. They may have been sensitized by the initial infection to react to the slightest stimuli. So even a very minor irritant such as dust could set off a reaction, says Omid Mehdizadeh, MD.
Speak to a GP if:
your cough is particularly severe. you cough up blood. you experience shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or chest pain. you have any other worrying symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in your voice, or lumps or swellings in your neck.
A viral illness, such as a cold, the flu or the coronavirus, may cause coughing. If you have a viral illness, you'll probably experience a few other symptoms in addition to coughing, such as a runny nose, sore throat or fever. You have asthma or allergies. Allergies or asthma may trigger bouts of coughing.
The four main types of coughs are: wet, dry, paroxysmal and croup. Most coughs do go away on their own.
When you are sick, your cough might worsen at night due to postnasal drip. Postnasal drip refers to secretions that run down the back of the throat. View Source instead of coming out of the nose. This symptom often accompanies a cold, as well as the flu, allergies, and sinus infections.
Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale.
A bronchitis cough sounds like a rattle with a wheezing or whistling sound. As your condition progresses, you will first have a dry cough that can then progress towards coughing up white mucus.
Most people DO NOT need antibiotics for acute bronchitis caused by a virus. The infection will almost always go away on its own within 1 week. Doing these things may help you feel better: Drink plenty of fluids.
To diagnose bronchitis, your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms. Your provider may also order a blood test to look for signs of infection, or a chest X-ray to check whether your lungs and bronchial tubes look normal.
Benzonatate is used to relieve cough. Benzonatate is in a class of medications called antitussives (cough suppressants). It works by reducing the cough reflex in the lungs and air passages.
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever. Experiencing shortness of breath.
"A cough is considered chronic if it persists longer than eight weeks," explains Dr. Safdar. "At that point, we start to worry whether the cause might be a chronic health condition that needs to be addressed."
Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm) difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting.