What is cough?

Cough is a natural defense mechanism that protects the respiratory tract from inhaling foreign bodies and by clearing excessive bronchial secretions. An irritant such as dust, allergens, pollution, or smoke stimulates nerves that send a message to your brain. The brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of your lungs to force out the irritant.

Coughing is a symptom of many conditions and illnesses.

An occasional cough is normal and healthy.

Classification of cough
A cough can be classified by its duration, character, quality, and timing.

On the basis of duration
Acute – usually go away after 3 weeks.
Subacute cough-last 3 to 8 weeks.
Chronic cough-lasting longer than 8 weeks.

Common causes of cough

• Upper respiratort tract Infections
• Post nasal drip
• Allergy&Asthma
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Blood pressure drugs

Types of cough

Dry cough

A dry cough is a cough that doesn’t bring up mucus.It can be acute or chronic.

It may feel like having a tickle in the back of throat triggering cough reflex, giving hacking coughs. Dry coughs are often difficult to control and may present in long fits.

Common causes of Dry cough

• Common cold
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Whooping cough
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Postnasal drip

Symptoms of Dry cough

• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease in exercise tolerance
• Wheezing

Wet cough

A wet cough, also known as a productive cough, is any cough that produces mucus (phlegm).
A wet cough indicates that your body is producing more mucus than normal.

Common causes of wet cough

• Viral & bacterial infection
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• COPD
• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma

Symptoms of wet cough

• Chest congestion
• Coughing that produces mucus
• Wheezing sound when breathing

Allergic cough

Allergic cough is a term used to distinguish cough caused by allergies from cough caused by the common cold. An allergy cough is caused by immune system’s response to an allergen, rather than by an infection like a flu or cold cough.If your cough is allergy-related, you might notice that you cough more during some seasons, or in some environments.Allergic cough is a chronic dry cough.

Triggers of allergic cough
allergy coughs are typically caused by swelling or irritation of the airways.

• Hay Fever
• Dust
• Pets
• Mold
• Cockroaches

Symptoms associated with allergic cough

• Sneezing
• Dry cough
• Throat irritation
• Itchy eyes, skin, nose

Smoker’s cough

People who smoke often develop a cough. This cough is caused by the body clearing out the chemicals that enter the airways and lungs through tobacco use.

If the cough is persistent, lasting for more than 3 weeks, it is known as smoker’s cough. While the cough may begin as a dry cough, it can eventually produce phlegm. Other symptoms include a sore throat and chest pain.

Fast facts on smoker’s cough

• Not all smokers have smoker’s cough.
• Smoking causes a smoker’s cough.
• It can lead to a variety of other conditions, such as bronchitis.
• The most effective treatment for smoker’s cough is to quit smoking.

Symptoms
In the early stages of smoker’s cough, the cough tend to be dry. In later stages, the cough produces phlegm that may be

• colorless
• blood-tinged
• yellow-green
• White

Other symptoms that occur along with the cough include:

• A crackling sound when breathing
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Wheezing

Whooping cough

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe.

Symptoms
After cough fits, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which result in a “whooping” sound.
Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.

Causes
bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated.

Asthma cough

Frequent coughing, especially at night, may be a sign of asthma — an inflammation and constriction of the breathing tubes in the lungs .

Symptoms

• Dry cough
• difficulty breathing
• shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Common Asthma Cough Triggers

• Outdoor allergens, such as pollens from grass, trees and weeds
• Indoor allergens, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold
• Certain drugs
• Irritants in the air, such as smoke, air pollution and chemical fumes
• Colds, the flu or other illnesses
• Exercise
• Rapidly changing weather patterns