Cough

Signs and Symptoms of an Acute Cough:

• signs and symptoms that point to an infection include:

• Sputum, or phlegm, sometimes indicates an infection is present, but it is also seen in noninfectious causes. Yellow-green mucus also may indicate and infection.

Signs And Symptoms Of A Chronic (Persistent) Cough:

 Signs and symptoms of a chronic or persistent cough point to noninfectious causes

• Coughs that occur when a person is exposed to certain chemicals or irritants in the environment.
• Coughs with wheezing.
• Coughs that routinely worsen when a person goes to certain locations or do certain activities.

Causes

• While an occasional cough is normal, a cough that persists may be a sign of a medical problem.
• A cough is considered “acute” if it lasts less than three weeks. 
• It is considered “chronic” if it lasts longer than eight weeks (four weeks in children).

Common causes — Acute Cough

Common causes — Chronic Cough

Others Causes of Cough:

Treatments

• Treatment isn’t always necessary for short-term coughs because it’s likely to be a viral infection that will get better on its own within a few weeks. 
• You can look after yourself at home by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• Cough medicines and remedies
  • Medicines that claim to suppress your cough or stop you bringing up phlegm are not usually recommended. 
  • This is because there’s little evidence to suggest there any better than simple home remedies, and they’re not suitable for everyone.
  • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn’t be given to children under the age of six. 
  • Children aged 6 to 12 should only use them on the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

• A homemade remedy containing honey and lemon is likely to be just as useful and safer to take. Honey shouldn’t be given to babies under the age of one because of the risk of infant botulism.
• Treating the underlying cause
• this may help. For example: If your cough has a specific cause, treating
  • asthma can be treated with inhaled steroids to reduce inflammation in your airways
  • allergies can be treated by avoiding things you’re allergic to and taking antihistamines to dampen down your allergic reactions
  • bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics
  • GERD can be treated with antacids to neutralise your stomach acid and medication to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces
  • COPD can be treated with bronchodilators to widen your airways
  • If you smoke, quitting is also likely to help improve your cough. Read more about stopping smoking.

Top 10 Home Remedies for Cough

• A cough is caused by an irritant which tickles the larynx, and the body reacts by reflexively contracting muscles to expel it out. 
• Even though cough plays a huge role in clearing irritants, it can be annoying when persistent.
• There are some do-it-yourself (DIY) remedies that can help treat cough.

10 of these remedies are:

Long hot shower

• Coughing is as a result of cold. 
• The body responds to cold and tries to eradicate accumulated mucus through cough.
• Taking a regular hot shower will help to soothe the airways and reduce inflammation. 
• It will also help to reduce the thickness of the produced mucus, thereby reducing the severity of the cough. 
• A hot bath will steam up the bathroom, and you can as well stay for some while in the bathroom for your body to absorb heat. 
• There is nothing like a hot bath you know. 
• Asides curing your cough, a hot bath will help calm your nerves, re-energize you and relax pressurized muscles. That is a plus.

Honey tea

• Honey is known for various benefits it gives to the body. 
• One of those benefits is its treatment of cough. 
• It is naturally antibacterial, and it contains sugar concentration and hydrogen peroxide which are antibacterial properties. 
• To treat cough with honey, mix two teaspoons of honey with hot water and lemon or any herbal tea. 
• You can take this mixture as often as you need or want it. 
• A homemade remedy of honey is safer than giving over-the-counter common cough and cold medications to children under six years of age. 
• Now, although honey is an effective night treatment for children battling with cough, it should not be given to children under one year of age.

• Asides having a hot shower to treat cough, making a steam bowl is also an effective way to cure cough. 
• How do you go about this? Just fill a big bowl with hot water, throw in herbs like peppermint or essential oils like eucalyptus and stir. 
• Then lean over the bowl and drape a thick cloth over your head to trap the steam. Maintain this position if you can and try as much as possible to inhale the vapor. 
• The steam from the water will help thin the accumulated mucus and also soothe your airways.

Warm salt-water gargle

• It is an effective remedy for cough and sore throat, and it helps to draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the throat, making them hurt less. 
• The process is simple. Just make a warm saltwater solution and gargle on it by making it sit for a while on your throat, then spit it out. 
• Gargling will loosen thick mucus in the airways. 
• This method is best for adults only since children might end up swallowing the solution and this can pose a considerable danger when taken in excess. 
• You can repeat this process as much as it is convenient for you.

Ginger

• Ginger is not made only for the kitchen or just to spice up foods. 
• It has its health benefits also. 
• Ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds and very effective in soothing the inflamed airways, which can reduce coughing. 
• Asides that, it is also an effective immunizing agent against germs and very good in calming nerves. 
• As cough treatment, ginger can be stewed in water as tea. 
• You add few slices of fresh ginger in hot water, allow it steep for a few minutes and drink. 
• This home remedy shouldn’t be taken all the time because excess consumption can lead to stomach upset or heart burn in some cases.

Bromelain

• This is a proteinous enzyme derived from the pineapple plant. 
• Bromelain has lots of health benefits it gives to the body; from relieving sinus problems to reducing inflammation. 
• The main cause of the production of mucus which leads to cough is the inflammation of the airways in the lungs. 
• Bromelain can be extracted from the peel, stem, leaves or waste of pineapple plant after processing the fruit. It is not difficult to get as you might think, it is available in the markets.

Monitor your diet

• When you notice you are beginning to have a cough, try to monitor your diet. 
• You should not take in food that will irritate your lungs or cause your throat to be itchy. 
• Avoid fruits that are naturally dry like nuts. 
• Avoid fried and fatty foods because they contain unhealthy fats that put pressure on the lungs. Fatty foods also cause excess mucus production and further aggravate the cough. 
• Limit your intake of dairy products to avoid the production of excess mucus. 
• Avoid caffeine-loaded foods and drinks which tends to dehydrate the body. 
• When the body is dehydrated, thick mucus is produced, and this worsens cough.
• Avoid alcohol, fermented foods, dry fruits, etc. and reduce intake of sugar as it can cause serious inflammation.