Search for articles. Popular searches How can I relieve my back pain? Family's Health. Men's Health. Women's Health. When should you see a doctor about a cough? Published on October 12, When you have a cough, air will get expelled as a result of some irritant. This is usually involuntary, and it is reflex action taken by the body to clear up your airways of mucus and irritants e. Related Articles. Common myths people may have around making a Will Our health and wellness should be our top….
A cough is a common symptom that occurs in a range of different conditions. Some, including pneumonia and asthma, require medical attention. It is best to see a doctor for coughs that persist for longer than 3 weeks, as they may indicate something more serious.
A cough occurs when the lungs or airways become irritated. The most common cause of a cough is the common cold, which does not usually require medical attention. However, coughs that occur with other symptoms, such as dizziness, may require a trip to doctor. This is particularly important with more serious symptoms, such as coughing up blood.
This article will discuss when to see a doctor about a cough, as well as some possible causes of a persistent cough. Different types of cough vary in how long they last.
For example :. Each cough can have a different cause, and some may require medical attention. Most acute coughs have less serious causes, such as a cold. It is not necessary to see a doctor in these cases. However, subacute and chronic coughs could be a sign of something more serious that may require medical attention. It is also important to see a doctor if the cough occurs with other, more serious symptoms, such as:.
Below, we discuss several possible causes of a cough, as well as the other symptoms they may cause. A common cold is one of the most common causes of an acute cough. Colds are the result of a respiratory virus, the most common being rhinovirus.
Other symptoms of a cold can include:. It is not necessary to see a doctor for a cold, as the symptoms will usually go away on their own within a few days. However, it is important to see a doctor if symptoms persist for longer than 10 days or become severe. A chesty cough produces thick mucus known as phlegm.
This is also known as a productive cough or wet cough. The phlegm comes up from the lungs and lower airways. This type of cough may be worse in the morning. There may be wheezing when you breathe in. A chesty cough may follow a common cold infection or can be due to long-term conditions, such as bronchiectasis , chronic bronchitis or asthma.
They may vomit afterwards. The most common cause of a short-term acute cough is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, such as in the common cold or the flu. The viral infection inflames the throat, windpipe trachea or lungs. In healthy people, this type of cough normally goes away on its own within weeks. It may be caused by an underlying disease, or sometimes the cough reflex may become sensitised and a person develops an ongoing cough.
If you have a persistent cough, your doctor will want to treat any underlying condition that is causing the cough. There may also be triggers that make the symptoms of a persistent cough worse. Try to avoid being around people who are smoking. If you are a smoker, try to cut down or quit. For advice on quitting smoking, visit the Quit Now website. Most short-term coughs are due to viral infections of the upper respiratory tract.
Most of the time these coughs will go away on their own. However, there are some things you can do to relieve the symptoms:. There are many cough remedies and over-the-counter medicines for cough, but they are not generally helpful in treating short-term cough and may have side effects. Cough medicines should not be given to children aged under 6 years. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has advised that cough and cold medicines including cough suppressants, antihistamines, decongestants and combination products should NOT be given to children less than 6 years as they may cause harm, and there is little evidence of their benefits.
Cough and cold medicines should only be given to children aged 6 to 11 years on the advice of a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner. As mentioned, honey has been shown to be helpful for children over 12 months with cough. However, you can minimise your chances of catching these viral infections in the first place, by practising good hand hygiene, physical distancing, and by getting vaccinated against COVID and influenza.
Cough etiquette and staying home when sick are also important in stopping the spread of respiratory viruses. If a cough is caused by asthma, appropriate asthma treatment can help it. If you think a cough is caused by a side effect of a medicine, see your doctor — alternative medicine may be available.
Cough in adults. Merck Manual Professional Version. Cough in children. When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds. Food and Drug Administration. Kellerman RD, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Philadelphia, Pa. Broaddus VC, et al. Chronic cough. Rochester, Minn. Use caution when giving cough and cold products to kids. Thompson DA. Itasca, Ill. Schmitt BD. Pappas DE. The common cold in children: Management and prevention.
Accessed May 20, Green JL, et al. Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics. Botulism: Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed June 4, Olson EJ expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 5, Accessed June 10,
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