Obtrusive cough attacks can occur suddenly and the cause for this are various health problems. The most frequent factor provoking this symptom is colds. However, in rare cases, a dry cough in an adult can be a consequence of allergies, heart diseases, abnormalities of the digestive tract.
Causes of dry cough
As a rule, the vast majority of cases of paroxysmal dry cough in people are associated with diseases of the nasopharynx and pharynx, rather than the bronchi. In addition, long-term symptoms can provoke such diseases as sinusitis, rhinitis or pharyngitis. When the cold and ARVI get to the bronchi( only with advanced stages), a person develops bronchitis. Often a prolonged and irritating dry cough worries children, because the immunity of a child is not very strong and can not resist pathogenic microorganisms.
Otolaryngologists say that a paroxysm of severe dry cough( or wet) is the body's way of coping with the clogging of the respiratory tract. There are cases when coughing begins, due to the development of certain diseases, for example:
- ARVI;
- of bronchial asthma;
- pneumonia;
- of laryngitis;
- tuberculosis;
- whooping cough;
- foreign body in the respiratory system.
In an adult
Tortious manifestations of a paroxysmal symptom can disturb a person throughout the day or at night. As a rule, glands in the nasopharynx are allocated up to 2.5 ml of mucus daily, which helps to breathe normally. The inflammatory process or allergic reaction causes an increase in the body temperature of the diseased, the mucus from it becomes thick, viscous and sticky. For this reason, the body provides a natural outflow of phlegm becomes difficult. The human breathing path is clogged, air is difficult to pass into the lungs, there is a runny nose.
The paroxysmal dry cough on exhalation is a reaction of an organism directed on clearing of bronchuses from excessive mucus. To this symptom stopped exhausting the patient, the pain in the chest disappeared, it is recommended to do inhalations, drink mucolytics, rinse your throat until phlegm begins to clear your throat. However, if a spastic paroxysmal cough with whistling has become a continuous, protracted, chronic phenomenon, it is worth to undergo a serious course of treatment.
In children
An uninterrupted paroxysmal dry cough in a child at night or in the morning can be a sign of bronchial asthma, allergies, a viral infection. These diseases occur with swelling of the upper respiratory tract, constant spasms, pain, dyspnea. Especially dangerous is a night attack, accompanied by hypoxia, which can frighten a child( especially a baby) in a dream. In this case, the baby will not be able to take a deep breath, begin to panic, a barking cough in the child will become sonorous and obtrusive, the face will turn red, and the limbs and lips will turn blue.
Treatment of dry cough in adults
If the problem worries you for a long time, first of all, you need to suppress the reflex causing a paroxysmal cough and calm the irritated throat. You can use folk recipes( depends on the nature of the symptoms and the general condition of the patient).However, professional treatment is recommended. Doctors prescribe medications that can help stop the recurrence of the disease. According to the mode of action( central and directional), the cough pill can be divided into two groups.
The first include the drugs of central action( function at the level of the brain), use of such drugs is allowed only on prescription from the doctor, because they reduce breathing, and if overdose block it. The second group of medicines helps to fight the disease at the level of the respiratory receptors. It includes:
- Bronchicum;
- Falimint;
- Terpinkod;
- Codeine.
How to treat dry cough in adults? At the first stage of the development of the disease, it is possible to alleviate the condition with soda or oil inhalations, mustard plasters, medicinal baths, compresses. It is important to distinguish dry cough from wet, after all therapy for them is provided different. An unproductive paroxysmal symptom must be stimulated to move into productive, to soften, to remove its causes. As a rule, it takes no more than one week to cure a dry cough. Do not forget that the fastest way of therapy is taking antibiotics.
How to treat barking cough in a child
The agent should be selected, depending on the cause of the appearance of paroxysmal cough. It is very important to ventilate the baby's room during illness( especially in the evening).Fresh air helps to relieve spasms, saturates the baby's body with oxygen, weathers the microbes from the room. To cure a whistling strong cough in a child, it is recommended to give the patient a warm drink for warming up. It is very useful to do inhalations, but do not use essential oils, it is better to stay on baking soda.
In addition, spasms perfectly remove the warming baths for the feet and hands. If the dry cough does not clear the throat, it is recommended to give the kids special baby syrups: Herbion, Lazolvan, Sinostop, Alteika. If the symptom is observed for a long period of time, it is possible to supplement the therapeutic cousi with ointments or healing herbs of herbs( thermopsis, licorice, mother-and-stepmother).If the throat is very sore, you can give mint candies, tea with raspberries, buckwheat honey. Some parents use classic homeopathy against dry cough.
How to get rid of dry cough
Paroxysmal symptoms are accompanied by a sore throat, hoarse voice, chest pain, total absence of mucus. The most effective way to treat dry cough is inhalation. For them, solutions and essential oils of sage, eucalyptus, mint are used. Preparation:
- To prepare the composition for the procedure, you need to pour boiling water and insist for about 20 minutes of dry herbs.
- After this, you can conduct an inhalation session.
In addition, the patient is recommended to drink plenty of warm liquid. For example, a well-known recipe is a mixture of honey, butter and whole boiled milk. Effectively combine medicinal preparations with inhalations based on essential oils( cedar, anise, sandalwood, oregano, thyme).Physiotherapeutic procedures( acupuncture, chest massage, electrophoresis, UHF, warming up) are no less effective for treatment, because they relieve inflammation, strengthen immunity, accelerate the process of recovery.
Folk remedies
Thinking about how to remove a fit of coughing in a child or adult, do not exclude home-based treatments, for example:
- Mix 0.2 liters of cranberry juice and 100 g of honey. Drink the remedy gradually in small sips for half an hour.
- Rub the raw potatoes on a grater, add a little honey. Take the drug for 1 tsp.each hour. The course of therapy is 5 days.
- Brewed in 0.5 liters of boiling water 1 spoonful of a mixture of dried herbs( oregano, marshmallows, mother-and-stepmother).Insist a few hours, drink a day.
- Grind the dried figs, add 10 spoons to a liter of milk, boil, insist 30 minutes. After this, a strained drink and take half the glass daily 5 times.
How to relieve a fit of cough at night
Special discomfort in a person can cause a dry cough, which is significantly worse at night. There are several ways to relieve an attack:
- drink a decoction of chamomile or lime flowers;
- mix warm milk with mineral water( or baking soda): 1/1, drink;
- take pills or hold inhalation before bedtime.