COUGH

Coughing is the natural response of the body as an airway defense system if there is an external disturbance. This response serves to clear the mucus or irritating factors or irritants (such as dust or smoke) to get out of the lungs and.

Coughing rarely indicates serious illness and will generally heal within three weeks, so it does not require treatment. The effectiveness of cough medicine has also not been fully proven. Homemade herbs like honey and lemon water can help ease a mild cough.

Types of Cough
The types of cough are differentiated into cough with phlegm and dry cough. Phlegm cough is known as the productive cough because it is accompanied by increased production of mucus or phlegm in the throat. While dry cough is known as nonproductive cough because cough is not accompanied by phlegm.

The early signs of a dry cough usually is an itchy feeling in the throat that triggers a cough. Cough without sputum is common in the late stages of a cold or when there is exposure to irritant substances.

In the case of phlegm, cough is very helpful because it works sputum. The phlegm can come from the throat, sinuses, and lungs.

In addition, there is also the term cough allergy, which is generally a dry cough, and a cough that accompanies the flu, which can appear either in the form of a dry cough or phlegm.

Causes of Cough

Viral respiratory infections are the main cause of most people. In addition, there are several other causes of cough that include:

    Long-term recurrent disease, such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis.
    Allergic rhinitis, eg allergic to pollen (hay fever).
    GERD. This disease causes stomach acid to collect in the esophagus and trigger a cough.
    The liquid from the nose dripping down the throat.
    Smoking or using tobacco in other ways.
    Exposure to dust, smoke, and chemical compounds.Although rare, the factors above can still be the initial cause of the disease that causes long-term cough.
Cough Diagnosis
The doctor will ask for symptoms and check your physical condition. Your medical history and family will also be asked at the beginning of the examination. If you are unsure of the cause of your cough, your doctor will probably recommend a follow-up examination:

    Sputum sampling to determine the presence of bacterial infection and the type of antibiotic that will be given if the cough is caused by bacteria.
    Chest X-ray to check whether you have a lung infection.
    Spirometry, the procedure of pulling and exhaling through a tube connected to the machine. This step serves to check whether you have a respiratory disease or not.
    Allergy testing to check whether your cough is caused by something that triggers allergies, such as dust mites.

Treatment of Cough
Mild coughs rarely require a serious treatment step, simply overcome with cough medicine to relieve itching, or to thin the sput to be more easily removed.

But if the cough is still prolonged, it could be a sign of a more serious respiratory infection. Consult a doctor if you have a severe cough and do not go away, so treatment can be done immediately.

A mild cough indeed rarely requires a certain treatment step. However, consult your doctor immediately if you have a cough that:

    More than three weeks due to viral infection.
    Getting worse.
    With blood, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weight loss for no apparent reason, fever, or swelling and a lump in the neck.

Coughing in Infants and Children
Coughing in infants and children is caused by the same factors as coughing in adults, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and GERD.

If cough becomes prolonged, it can be a sign of a more serious respiratory infection. Consult a doctor if your child has a severe cough and does not stop, so treatment can be done immediately.

Being aware of whooping cough symptoms is also very important, especially in children and infants. Symptoms of whooping cough include:

    Shriek in every deep breath after coughing.
    Coughy and intense coughing out thick sputum.
    Fatigue and blushing face for continued coughing.
    Gag.

In addition to whooping cough, coughs in infants and children can also be caused by bronchiolitis and croup. Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection in infants as well as children under the age of two years. While croup is a viral infection that attacks the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe) of infants and children.