A persistent cough is a cough that is prolonged or recurrent. After all, coughing is a protective mechanism that clears the airway of foreign material, mucus, and other irritants. Thus, there may be pathological processes in the body that require urgent or immediate attention. Mostly benign pathogens, however, some inhibit the function of the lung, heart, and digestive system.
In addition, it is necessary to classify coughs by their duration: coughs that occur for less than three weeks are acute ones, those that occur for three to eight weeks are subacute, and coughs that occur for more than eight weeks are chronic ones. Chronic cough in children is similar to that in adults, with the exception of a few differences. In addition, determining the causes of a persistent cough is essential, as the treatment is based on them.
1. Asthma
Asthma is among the causes of chronic cough; it is a disease in which the airways narrow and swell. Moreover, coughing attacks may become uncontrollable, which is a sign of cough-variant asthma.
A cough is more intense in the evening and early morning, occurs when the patient has an asthma attack, especially when playing sports or in cold air, and unpredictable coughing attacks can also occur. Another reason for coughing in asthma is lung infections: for example, bronchitis or pneumonia.
The main treatment for asthma is to avoid asthma triggers as much as possible; however, to eliminate episodes of coughing and wheezing, anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, using an inhaler, are used. In addition, to relieve the spasms of the bronchi, a doctor may prescribe bronchodilator drugs.
2. Postnasal Drip and Upper Airway Problems
The mucus that covers the nasal cavity and nasopharynx has such a consistency that it can actively flow down the throat into the stomach.
Some of the most common symptoms of postnasal drip are:
- A sensation of liquid flowing down the throat
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Worsening cough at night
Allergic rhinitis is one of the reasons for postnasal drip. Thus, treatment should be aimed at removing allergens and washing the nasal cavity with a saline solution. In addition, an individual treatment course should be selected under the supervision of a doctor.
3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
In rare cases, the cause of a chronic cough can be the intrusion of liquid food from the stomach into the esophagus. This happens because of the malfunction of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus; this malfunction is called GERD. By the way, heartburn, which is a hallmark of this disease, may be absent, in which case GERD is also called silent reflux or laryngopharyngeal reflux.
Coughing occurs when a person eats, bends, or lies down, especially at night, and after eating foods that are particularly difficult to digest. The main treatment for GERD is to adjust the diet and eating regimen: it is advisable to eat lighter foods and not lie down after eating.
4. Respiratory Infections
In addition to previously discussed reasons for coughing, upper respiratory tract infections, COVID-19, a cold, the flu, bronchitis, and other viral infections can also cause coughing long after recovery. Thus, a post-infectious cough is a cough that persists even after recovery from an illness.
A post-infectious cough is due to the fact that the bronchi were inflamed as a result of a viral infection. Moreover, after recovery, a person may have a cough, which can be both dry and productive. It periodically alternates with remission.
5. Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
By the way, one of the reasons for a chronic cough is smoking. Tobacco provokes annoying coughing due to the negative effects of its components on the mucous membranes of the bronchi and the inhibited movement of cilia. Another reason for coughing may be secondhand smoke.
6. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The main symptoms of COPD are:
- Chronic cough
- Expectoration
- Wheezing
- Reduced working ability
- Pulmonary infections
7. Certain Medications
Several classes of drugs can cause a chronic cough, for example, ACE inhibitors. The drugs in this group are prescribed to lower blood pressure, but a dry cough is a side effect of these medications. Nevertheless, the treatment of cough caused by inhibitors should be discussed with a doctor. In addition, a doctor’s individual examination is needed to find out the cause of a dry cough.
8. Tuberculosis
Another reason for a chronic cough is tuberculosis, a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The main symptoms of tuberculosis include cough, fever, weight loss, night sweats, weakness, chest pain, coughing up blood, and several other symptoms.
9. Pneumonia and Other Lung Diseases
In addition to pneumonia, there are many lung diseases that cause persistent coughing. Lung tissue is severely affected in lung diseases, which leads to a prolonged cough.
In particular, lung diseases are often long-term, so coughing is prolonged. A cough caused by lung cancer can be either dry or productive. Moreover, if a persistent cough is prolonged and accompanied by shortness of breath, it is necessary to contact a doctor.
10. Heart Causes
Finally, the reason for the cough may lie in the heart. Moreover, heartburn often occurs in patients with heart failure at night, while lying down, and when the patient is in a vertical position.
Persistent coughing due to heart problems is often accompanied by shortness of breath, edema of the lower extremities, constant fatigue, insomnia, and weight gain due to fluid retention. By the way, the presence of these symptoms indicates that an immediate visit to the doctor is necessary. As for the treatment of heart failure, it is a chronic disease, so the patient must take medications that enhance myocardial contractility. In addition, it is vital to prevent the development of this disease.
11. Lung Cancer
The disease called lung cancer is considered to be serious since it substantially decreases the power of the human lungs. Lung cancer is usually non-specific, though some symptoms might indicate the development of lung cancer.
When to See a Doctor
A doctor should be called if:
The patient notes coughing up large amounts of blood, severe shortness of breath, cyanosis or bluish lips or nails, chest pain, delirium, loss of consciousness, a fever or an unending fever, as well as general deterioration of health.
Furthermore, a person has HIV or another disease that suppresses the immune system, or a lung infection and other complex diseases. At the same time, if coughing persists for weeks or even months and may be associated with shortness of breath or chest pain, this is also a reason to visit a doctor.
Conclusion
There are many reasons for a persistent cough, from post-infectious to lung cancer. However, the presence of certain symptoms characteristic of the cough does not always indicate lung cancer. Nonetheless, the duration, nature of a persistent cough (dry, productive), and accompanying symptoms are essential in determining lung disease. Thus, it is not only necessary to distract the patient from the attack of coughing and suppress it, but also to find the reason for its occurrence and treat the disease. In addition, if a persistent cough occurs and interferes with the patient’s work, it is necessary to contact a doctor.
FAQs
1. Is a persistent dry cough serious?
A: Not necessarily, because dry coughs can be caused by allergies, asthma, reflux, medications, or postnasal drip. In addition, it could be caused by post-viral irritation of the airways. However, it is important to know what is causing it.
2. Does that mean I have lung disease?
A: It can be caused by many things, including the lungs, but also the nose, throat, stomach, medications, or heart.
3. Can TB cause a persistent cough?
A: Yes, it can cause a cough lasting weeks or longer, especially with weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, or fever.
4. Can it be a symptom of lung cancer?
A: It can be, but most persistent coughs are not caused by cancer. However, a new persistent cough or one that changes should always be investigated.
5. How is a persistent cough investigated?
A: Your doctor will ask you about how long it has been going on for, what the cough is like, any smoking, medication, or allergy history, and other symptoms. If lung disease is suspected, you might need a chest X-ray, spirometry, or other tests to confirm/refute this. The same goes for investigating reflux or allergies.
6. How is a persistent cough treated?
A: It depends very much on what is causing it. For example, asthma is treated with asthma medications, reflux is treated with reflux treatments, and bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics.
7. Should I take cough syrup for a persistent cough?
A: Cough medicines can sometimes help to a certain extent, but they do not always treat the underlying cause. A persistent cough should be investigated rather than just treated with cough syrup.
