A cough is usually one of the symptoms associated with infections caused by viruses and bacteria. However, coughing usually slowly dissipates once an infection subsides. Despite this, a cough can persist for a few days longer than most other symptoms associated with infections, such as fevers and chills.
In contrast, a chronic cough is a long-standing ailment that comes and goes but, most importantly, never actually vanishes. The causes are many, and this type of cough can be a symptom of an underlying persistent health problem.
The symptoms of a chronic cough are days of continuous coughing that come in coughing fits that can last a few minutes and then ease. Some chronic coughs are accompanied by throat irritation, wheezing, chest pain, and a tight sensation in the chest.
A chronic cough can be dry, chesty, or tickly and be eased temporarily by cough medicines, but these often do not treat the actual cause of the problem. Those who suffer from chronic coughs sometimes do not have any other symptoms and feel well within themselves.
An exception is if the cause is pneumonia or other serious infections. If this is the case, then other symptoms, such as fever and fatigue, are usually present.
There are many different causes of chronic coughing, and these include postnasal drip, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, asthma, and the side effects of treatments with ACE inhibitors that are used to treat high blood pressure.
Those with any of the above medical conditions or those being treated for high blood pressure are at risk of developing a chronic cough. So are smokers and those whose occupations bring them in direct contact with dust or chemical irritants of the airways.
Those who suffer from seasonal allergies such as hay fever or those who are allergic to animals, moulds, dust mites, and other common allergens are also at risk of developing a chronic cough.
To determine the cause or causes of a chronic cough, a healthcare professional will usually perform a physical assessment, including a throat and chest examination. A lung function test may also be performed. Blood tests, a chest X-ray, or a CT scan may also help to discover the true cause of a chronic cough.
Treatment is dependent on the results of all the medical investigations performed. Antacids can prevent gastro-oesophageal reflux. This, in turn, can stop irritation of the throat and lungs from stomach acids.
Decongestants can help relieve post-nasal drip, inhalers can soothe irritation in the airways caused by asthma, and smokers can cut back or quit smoking altogether.
If allergies are the cause of chronic coughing, then antihistamines can help. Mask-wearing when handling chemical irritants or working in an environment that exposes the airways to such foreign bodies can also help to prevent a chronic cough from developing.
Eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can help to fight allergies and inflammation in the airways and body in general, making coughs and other chronic health conditions far less likely to develop.