A viral infection that causes a cough usually subside on its own. Coughing can be grouped by the ongoing period:
- Acute - short-term, lasting less than 3 weeks.
- Sub-acute - lasts for 3-8 weeks.
- Long-term (chronic) - lasting more than 8 weeks.
Acute cough
Most coughs are caused by a viral infection of the respiratory tract. Upper respiratory tract infections include colds, flu, laryngitis, sinusitis and whooping cough. This infection attacks the throat, windpipe, and sinuses.
Bronchitis and pneumonia are examples of lower respiratory tract infections, namely in the lower respiratory tract itself or lungs are exposed to the virus.
Besides infection, causes acute cough can also be due to allergic rhinitis, when objects such as dust and cigarette smoke triggers this allergy (also known as hay fever) or because of long-term disease (chronic) such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis.
Cough Long-term (chronic)
Although rare, the cough may indicate a health condition that is affected by a chronic cough.
There are several causes of persistent cough in adults:
- Prescription drugs, for example drugs used to mitigate high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart disease.
- Smoke. Cough in smokers could also be a symptom of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease because of irritation caused by acid reflux.
- Long-term respiratory tract infections.
- Long-term illness, such as asthma.
- Postnasal drip (mucus dripping from the back of the nose to the throat caused by allergies such as rhinitis).
In some conditions, the cough can be a symptom of the disease is more severe, among others:
- Tuberculosis
- Lung cancer
- Heart failure
- Pulmonary embolism (blockage in the lung)
<=Definition of Cough Treatment of Cough =>
0 Komentar