Cough

After a long winter, many people suffer from coughing. What can you do about it and when should you go to the doctor?

Coughing is often the result of a respiratory infection such as a cold, flu or bronchitis. Often nasal fluid also drips into the pharynx, causing you to cough. Too dry air, cigarette smoke or the reflux of stomach contents - the 'acid' in the vernacular - also make you cough. Coughing can also be a symptom of asthma or allergy.

You do not need to take any medication for coughing itself. What you can do is drink a lot. It is better not to take cough syrups that suppress the cough reflex on your own because they can prevent the mucus from being evacuated from the airways. Definitely do not give such a syrup to young children!

You should go to the doctor if you have risk complaints such as fever for more than 4 days, bloody mucus, cough with chest pain, shortness of breath or wheezing or coughing for more than 3 weeks.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024