Cough is a common symptom in our daily life. It can be either a sign of a minor illness or a signal of a serious health problem. Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of cough is essential for maintaining our respiratory health.
Definition and classification
of
cough
Cough is a protective reflex action of the human body, which aims to remove secretion, foreign bodies or irritants from the respiratory tract. According to the duration of cough, it can be divided into acute cough ( 8 weeks).
Acute cough is usually caused by upper respiratory tract infection, such as common cold, acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis and so on. Subacute cough is common in post-infection cough, that is, after the acute symptoms of respiratory tract infection disappear, the cough is still prolonged. The causes of chronic cough are more complex, including cough variant asthma, upper airway cough syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic bronchitis and so on.
2. Causes
of cough
1. Respiratory tract infection: This is the most common cause, such as respiratory tract inflammation caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma and other pathogens.
2. Foreign bodies in the airway: Children are particularly prone to foreign bodies that enter the airway and stimulate the cough reflex.
3. Allergic factors: allergic cough or cough variant asthma caused by allergens such as pollen, dust mites and animal hair.
4. Environmental factors: air pollution, smog, chemicals, etc. stimulate the respiratory tract and cause coughing.
5. Drug side effects: Some antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, may cause coughing.
6. Respiratory diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer, etc.
7. Digestive system diseases: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric acid reflux stimulates the pharynx and causes cough.
3. Diagnosis
of cough When diagnosing cough,
doctors usually inquire about the medical history in detail, including the time, nature (dry or wet cough), frequency, aggravating or alleviating factors of cough, and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, sputum, wheezing, expiratory dyspnoea, etc.
A physical examination may include auscultation of the lungs, examination of the nasal cavity, throat, etc. In addition, some auxiliary examinations may be arranged, such as blood routine, chest X-ray or chest CT, pulmonary function test, bronchial provocation test, induced sputum cytology, etc., to identify the cause of cough.
Treatment
of Cough
Cough should be treated according to the cause. If the cough is caused by a respiratory infection, the cough will usually gradually ease after the infection is controlled. For patients with severe dry cough affecting life and rest, cough medicines such as dextromethorphan and pentoxyverine can be used.
If it is cough variant asthma, it needs to be treated according to the standard of asthma, using inhaled glucocorticoids, bronchodilators and so on. Upper airway cough syndrome requires treatment of nasal or pharyngeal diseases, such as nasal glucocorticoids and antihistamines.
Cough caused
by gastroesophageal reflux disease requires the use of acid suppressants and prokinetic drugs. Foreign bodies in the airway may need to be removed by means such as bronchoscopy.
In the process of treating cough, patients themselves also need to pay attention to some matters. Keep the indoor air fresh and avoid contact with allergens and irritants. Drink plenty of water to help dilute sputum and promote sputum discharge. The diet should be light and avoid spicy, greasy and stimulating food.
In conclusion, cough, although common, should not be ignored. Only by accurately diagnosing the cause, taking targeted treatment measures, and paying attention to the recuperation in life, can we effectively alleviate cough and restore the health of the respiratory tract. If the cough persists or is accompanied by other serious symptoms, they should seek medical treatment in time so as to make a definite diagnosis as soon as possible and carry out effective treatment.
Cough
