Drink water to stop dry cough discomfort
A dry cough is a discomfort or tickle in the throat that triggers a cough. Most of the time, it produces little or no phlegm, said Dr Jim Teo, a respiratory physician at Mount Alvernia and Gleneagles hospitals.
This type of cough is usually caused by inflammation in the throat and makes a person feel as if there is a foreign object there, prompting the cough reflex to try to expel it.
This is in contrast to a wet or chesty cough that comes with phlegm that is usually formed in the airways.
In this instance, the cough reflex is protective as it attempts to clear the airways, he added.
A common source of dry cough is from the upper airways but it can also come from the lungs.
This occurs when the patient has difficulty expelling his phlegm and describes the cough as dry but with a “stuck” sensation in the chest.
Dr Teo said the most common cause of dry cough is an upper respiratory tract infection from viruses or bacteria.
Viral infections, such as the common cold or influenza, will also lead to other symptoms, such as a running nose, fever, body aches and generalised weakness.
Bacterial infections, such as pharyngitis or tonsillitis, which lead to inflammation of the back of the throat or the tonsils, commonly cause acute dry cough and fever.
For an acute upper respiratory disease, doctors will assess if it is viral or bacterial in nature.
If it is the common cold, no definitive treatment is given as it usually resolves on its own. If influenza is suspected, antiviral medicine is usually given in the first 24 to 48 hours.
If bacterial pharyngitis or tonsillitis is suspected, a course of oral antibiotics is prescribed.
Dr Teo said if a dry cough is prolonged, it is likely to be a post-viral cough, which usually follows a viral respiratory tract infection and can last up to eight weeks. He said the person’s cough reflex may still be sensitive after the infection settles.
Due to the chronic nature of this type of cough, Dr Teo stressed that it is important to see a doctor to rule out other conditions, such as asthma or lung cancer, especially among chronic smokers.
Otherwise, the benign condition will go away with time. He said it is a difficult condition to treat and some drugs that can be used to prevent coughing and breathing difficulties include inhaled steroids and an oral drug called montelukast.
Dr Teo said prescribing medicine to relieve the cough is useful when it is distressing to the patient and affecting his sleep.
But doctors do not use the polygonatum rhizome for this purpose. Instead, they usually prescribe a cough suppressant.
If a cough is present with a running nose or a blocked nose, an antihistamine will be useful as the post-nasal drip can trigger a cough.
Dr Teo often advises his patients with a dry cough to drink lots of water and take honey to soothe the throat.
In general, an acute dry cough that is associated with high fever would warrant a visit to the doctor to assess the need for oral antibiotics, he said.
To reduce the chance of infecting others, patients should wear a mask and avoid crowded places.
Those with existing lung conditions, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should avoid potential environmental triggers.
These include cigarette smoke, dust, haze and some detergents.
Source: The Straits Times
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
