Effective treatment of dry (non-productive) cough in adults

Causes and types

Frequent dry cough is a symptom that accompanies more than 50 diseases. In this case, we can talk about either a banal seasonal cold or more serious illnesses, for example, tuberculosis or lung cancer. Depending on the duration, cough is divided into the following types:

• Spicy. Lasts no more than two days, then transforms into wet bronchospasm and gradually stops.
• Protracted. It can torment the patient from three weeks to three months.
• Chronic. This type of cough without phlegm usually lasts for more than three months.

As mentioned above, a dry cough can be a frequent accompaniment of a large number of ailments. But most often it is caused by the following reasons:

How to treat a dry cough in a child

An irritating, non-productive dry cough in a child is considered one of the symptoms of a respiratory disease. In most cases, such a manifestation is indeed associated with acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, but the risk of heart disease, gastrointestinal tract or nerve diseases cannot be excluded. The answer to the question of how to treat such a pathological condition largely depends on the correctness of the diagnosis.

Treatment

If you or your loved ones are tormented by a dry cough, you need to start therapeutic measures. Do not self-medicate or select medications by reading reviews on the Internet or listening to the advice of friends. Incorrect treatment is fraught with many complications. The main task in this case is to transform a dry non-productive cough into a wet productive one and form sputum.

To stop coughing, use a comprehensive approach to therapy.

Medications must be combined with physiotherapy, as well as remedies from the arsenal of traditional medicine. It should be remembered that the choice of specific medications will depend entirely on the underlying cause of the cough. In most cases, a dry cough in the morning and throughout the day is caused by colds. Therefore, the rehabilitation course will look like this:

• antiviral drugs.
• antibiotics (only in case of urgent need);
• mucolytics (“ACC”, “Lazolvan” and so on);
• antihistamines (for allergic cough);
• antitussives to block the cough center.

It is always worth remembering that antitussive drugs are prescribed only in certain cases, for example, in the treatment of whooping cough (and only as prescribed by a doctor). You cannot use them without the instructions of a specialist, and there is a very good reason for this.

In the process of treating tracheitis, bronchitis and other pathologies with acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, it is necessary to remove phlegm from the body. Antitussive medications block coughing. Therefore, the mucus sinks lower into the lungs and leads to dangerous complications.

Physiotherapy

Dry cough in adults and children can and should be treated with physiotherapeutic techniques. The role of such procedures cannot be overestimated. In combination with drug treatment, they help improve immunity and bring the moment of recovery closer. If you suffer from a dry cough, use the achievements of modern physiotherapy. They will help improve blood circulation, significantly reduce the intensity of pain and reduce inflammation.

Dry cough and pain will no longer hold you hostage if you use the following physiotherapeutic methods:

• UHF therapy;
• electrophoresis;
• hardware warm-up;
• inhalation;
• acupuncture;
• massage of the chest area;
• restorative breathing exercises and so on.

Are you suffering from a dry cough? Try an innovative method of physiotherapy - inhalation through nebulizers.

We are talking about a portable ultrasonic compressor device that transports drug particles directly into the lungs or bronchi. As a result, the rehabilitation process is twice as fast and easier for the patient.

Also, do not forget about the effective preventive effect of nebulizers on the body. Inhalations using such a device reliably protect against bronchial spasms and obstructive bronchitis. In addition, they protect young children from various complications, including false croup.

Nature of cough

You can begin to treat a dry cough in an adult only after the diagnosis has been established. After all, the cough reflex is a symptom of most painful human conditions. The body’s natural protective reaction to the ingress of provocateurs, which may be microbes, bacteria, allergens, or foreign bodies.

Often, a cough indicates serious disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. But one question is when a reflex spasm occurs with the release of sputum, which significantly alleviates the condition of the sick person. And the sensations of a nonproductive cough look completely different:

• more commonly known as “dry”;
• unlimited duration;
• without relief, frequent, debilitating due to paroxysmal nature;
• quickly and painfully irritates the larynx (soft tissue);
• causes vomiting and dizziness.

There are 4 types. The most dangerous is considered chronic. It enters this stage within 6 weeks, even if treatment is carried out. The chronic type is preceded by the subacute type.

In this case, the cough bothers the person for 3-5 weeks. Remains lingering and sharp. The acute type can be observed for a maximum of 2 weeks. After which it smoothly turns into a protracted one.

Folk remedies

Now we know how dangerous a dry cough is, and it’s time to use another component from our treatment complex. Traditional medicine is a source of wisdom and knowledge passed on from generation to generation. But you should not use folk recipes as a key element of therapy. They will be effective only in combination with traditional drug treatment. Otherwise, at best, folk remedies will be useless, at worst, they will transform the cough into a chronic form.

To eliminate dry throat and coughing attacks, quickly form sputum, use the following methods:

• During cough attacks, drink plenty of fluids in the form of purified water, compotes, teas, herbal decoctions, and so on.
• Take hot milk with a pinch of baking soda and a teaspoon of honey added.
• Do not forget about compresses, mustard plasters and rubbing. Naturally, not everyone is enthusiastic about these procedures (especially young children). But it is these methods that help reduce the intensity of the cough and speed up the healing process.
• Do traditional steam inhalations using potato or soda.
• Consume black radish juice with honey (or sugar).
• Treat yourself with a mixture of lemon juice, honey and glycerin.

A few words about diet and prevention

What is the correct diet for dry cough, and what foods must be included in the diet? We recommend eating oatmeal cooked with milk. In addition, pay attention to mashed potatoes (again, with milk), salads made from grated radish with vegetable oil or sour cream. Those who drink coffee frequently should give it up for a while. Consume barley drink with milk and chicory.

A severe dry cough during the day should be a reason to avoid excessive consumption of very sweet, salty, sour or spicy foods. All of them negatively affect the condition of the mucous membrane and contribute to its irritation. As for fasting, it should not be practiced. There is no need to weaken an already exhausted body (this also applies to cases of severe coughing and vomiting).

Separately, it is necessary to say about preventive measures. The following simple tips will help you not get sick and always feel in good shape:

• do not get too cold;
• eat a balanced diet;
• walk in the fresh air;
• start hardening your body (contrast showers will help);
• undergo fluorographic examination annually;
• do not let the course of a cold take its course (get treated on time and consult a doctor);
• In hazardous industries, protect your respiratory system with a respirator.

Once again I would like to note the danger of self-medication. Even if a mild cough only bothers you during the day, you should not refuse to visit a doctor.

Bronchospasm may tear your throat at night and last for a day or two. Regardless of the causes of coughing attacks and their characteristics, always seek professional help.

What is a nonproductive cough in children? This cough is characterized by severe, irritating, frequent attacks in which the child tries to cough up mucus in the lungs, but is unable to do so.

So, a non-productive cough, the treatment of which we have to analyze, occurs in the following diseases:

• acute respiratory diseases
• acute and chronic bronchitis (see)
• bronchopneumonia
• flu

If your child has a nonproductive cough, treating it will require a lot of effort.

It will consist of several stages:

• drug therapy
• phytotherapy
• drainage massage
• ethnoscience

Drug therapy

Let's consider how to treat a child with medications. The main group of drugs used for nonproductive cough in children are mucolytics.

Mucolytic drugs are available in the form of tablets, syrups and suspensions. Use 2 to 3 times a day on an empty stomach (one hour before meals or two hours after meals). Each drug comes with instructions that must be strictly followed.

The use of inhalations for nonproductive cough in children

If a cough is detected in a child with difficult-to-clear sputum, the doctor will definitely add inhalations in addition to standard treatment.

Expectorant inhaled drugs include:

• ambroxol
• ambrobene
• lazolvan

The above drugs are available in the form of solutions. Dissolves according to instructions with saline solution 0.9% 1:1.

The procedure time is at least two minutes, maximum until all the medicine has evaporated. The number of minutes depends on how the child behaves during the inhalation itself.

Let's look at the differences when taking expectorants by mouth and by inhalation in the table:

Phytotherapy

If you notice a nonproductive cough in a child, treatment can begin with herbal medicine. The herbs included in the breast collection are used.

Drainage massage

Massage for any type of cough is an additional treatment method.

Effect of drainage massage:

• immuno-strengthening
• warming up
• expectorant
• relaxing

For a nonproductive cough with sputum that is difficult to clear, the goal is to eliminate phlegm congestion in the lungs. There are no age restrictions.

Nonproductive cough

Cough is one of the symptoms of a cold. It can appear at any time of the year and, if not treated well, causes serious illness. Therefore, only a specialist can correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe medications.

There are productive and non-productive coughs. A productive cough indicates the body’s successful fight against the virus, while an unproductive cough indicates that treatment must be taken seriously.

An unproductive cough gives the patient a lot of discomfort.

What is a nonproductive cough?

A nonproductive cough is also called a dry cough because it does not produce sputum. It is a dry cough that characterizes the onset of respiratory diseases. The mucous membrane is dry, so during coughing attacks a sore throat appears. Inflammation provokes irritation of the respiratory tract. This is a reflex process that can be caused by the following diseases:

• laryngitis;
• tracheitis;
• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• allergy.

Nonproductive cough can be divided into two types:

1. acute, which lasts no more than 3 weeks;
2. chronic, which lasts 3 weeks or longer.

An unproductive cough irritates and damages the respiratory system. If it becomes productive, the body will fight the disease faster. Productive and non-productive cough are symptoms of diseases affecting the respiratory system, so before starting treatment measures, it is important to determine the etiology.

Why is it developing?

A non-productive dry cough is characterized as inflammation. Mucus is not removed from the bronchi and the functioning of the respiratory system is disrupted. This type of cough is more severe and takes longer to treat. But before taking medications, you need to determine its causes.

Physiological reasons:

• foreign body in the respiratory tract;
• heartburn;
• eating spicy or heavy foods;
• getting pieces of food into the larynx.

Diseases that are characterized by a nonproductive cough:

You need to know that a dry cough can last from several weeks to several months. Treatment must be started in a timely manner to avoid complications. One of the reasons for a child's dry cough may be the environment in which he lives.

Allergies can be caused by dust, cleaning chemicals, laundry detergent, or even pets. Also, certain medications can cause allergies. In this case, any contact with the allergen should be eliminated.

Symptoms of a nonproductive cough

The main symptom of a nonproductive cough is the absence of sputum. Doctors distinguish the following characteristic types of cough:

• barking cough is characteristic of viral diseases;
• deafness is the main symptom of tuberculosis;
• paroxysmal is a symptom of asthma or whooping cough.
• prolonged may indicate pleurisy, pharyngitis or the presence of a tumor.

But only a doctor can determine the exact causes of a nonproductive dry cough.

It is necessary to conduct a full examination of the patient, establish the duration of the cough, its nature, the presence of temperature, etc. Treatment must also be prescribed by a qualified specialist.

A dry, nonproductive cough is a very unpleasant and often painful symptom that disrupts a person’s general well-being and quality of life.

Antitussives

To eliminate a cough, you first need to destroy the cause of its occurrence. But symptomatic treatment is also carried out. To cure a non-productive cough, you need to make it productive. For this purpose, antitussive drugs are prescribed.

They thin out thick mucus and help remove phlegm from the body. Antitussives can be in the form of tablets, syrups or drops.

There are also drugs with narcotic effects that can be prescribed for whooping cough or pleurisy:

• Codeine;
• Ethylmorphine;
• Dimemorphan.

Non-narcotic antitussive drugs are not addictive:

• Butamirat;
• Glaucine;
• Sinecode;
• Oxeladine.

Mucolytics and expectorants

If the cough is infectious, treatment is carried out with mucolytics. They also have an expectorant effect, thin the mucus and help the bronchi clear of mucus. Prescribed if the mucus is very thick and viscous:

• ACC;
• Ambroxol;
• Mukaltin;
• Althea syrup;
• Bronholitin.

Expectorants are prescribed for productive coughs, when the sputum is not too thick. Expectorant drugs are also divided into:

1. Reflex drugs. They irritate the gastric mucosa and cause a gag reflex, which ultimately helps produce mucus. These are mainly herbal-based preparations: Althea preparations, Thermopsol tablets, Cadelac broncho, breast preparations.
2. Resorptive action. Irritate the mucous membrane and increase the secretion of liquid sputum. These include Amtersol.

Homeopathic medicines

In cases of prolonged cough, a homeopathic physician can help. In addition to the physiological examination, the patient’s psychology and the atmosphere in the family are also studied. Mostly the doctor prescribes one drug. It could be:

• Drosera;
• Bryony;
• Phosphorus;
• Bronchialis Hel;
• Gepar sulphur.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help cure a cough quickly. Only a doctor should prescribe them. If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, treatment with antibiotics is necessary. Among them are:

• Augmentin;
• Ampiox;
• Sumamed;
• Amoksikalav;
• Ecoball;
• Azithromycin;
• Suprax.

Inhalations for the treatment of cough

Steam inhalations will also be useful in treatment. They are used in case of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Their benefit lies in the fact that sputum is actively moistened and this helps the coughing process. For inhalations, you can use eucalyptus, raspberry root and mint. But you need to remember that if there is no mucus in the respiratory tract, then inhalation is not needed.

Compresses

Cough compresses can be hot, cold or warm. The compress should consist of three layers:

• gauze or bandage soaked in an ether or alcohol solution;
• insulating paper or oilcloth;
• the third layer, which warms the painful part.

You should not apply compresses when the patient has a high temperature. Compresses made from butter, cheese and potatoes are used against coughs.

Useful tips

At the first symptoms of cough, you should consult a doctor. It is the cause that needs to be treated, not the cough itself. In addition to medications, the patient is also prescribed plenty of fluids. The air in the patient's room must be moist and fresh. Hot and dry air will provoke coughing attacks. And, of course, you should definitely follow your doctor’s recommendations and not self-medicate.

Source: https://stopillness.ru/neproduktivnyj-kashel/

ethnoscience

For nonproductive coughs, they often use:

• radish syrup with honey
• milk with honey
• garlic, ginger

The recipe for radish with honey is especially popular among mothers. Radish has a powerful expectorant effect, honey is known for its immune-strengthening properties.

In the photo, an alternative to treatment with tablets is radish with honey.

Method for preparing syrup: grate the radish on a medium grater, add it to a cup of honey, and make a hole in the middle of the cup to catch any accumulations of the syrup itself. Leave for about six hours at room temperature. And, the syrup is ready to use.

Children over 2 years old are given 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. The duration of treatment varies from 5 to 14 days.

Important! This syrup is contraindicated for children with allergic diseases or allergies to the components of the syrup!

Also in folk medicine, methods such as rubbing a child with badger or goose fat are used. This method gives a powerful warming effect, while the beneficial vitamins contained in these types of fats penetrate through the child’s skin.

It will be useful for unproductive coughs to use infusions of rose hips and ginger to help the child drink.

In conclusion, I would like to say how to treat a child is the choice of the parents. But you must listen to the opinion of a specialist. We invite you to watch the video in this article.

Coughing is a protective reaction of the body. The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract reacts in this way to factors that irritate it. Any cough causes considerable discomfort to the patient. There are two types of cough: productive and non-productive. What are the significant differences between these types? How to help your child recover faster?

How to help your child with a cough

Help from parents to a child with a cough consists, first of all, of maximum care and care - he should feel safe and secure in the family. Of course, consultation with a pediatrician is necessary, who will help develop an action plan at all stages of treatment and prevent any negative consequences.

The doctor prescribes the treatment, and the parents’ task is to ensure its clear and consistent implementation. To relieve a child’s cough, Stodal syrup is often recommended, which has antimicrobial, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects1. It helps relieve coughs and has no age restrictions2.

Stodal is especially effective at the initial stage of ARVI treatment. Taking Stodal syrup from the first days of the disease can reduce the treatment of cough due to ARVI to 1 week3.

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For a wet cough, you need products with a mucolytic and expectorant effect, preferably plant-based. In addition, bronchodilators are indicated, which reduce bronchospasm and facilitate sputum production.

The use of any medications should be accompanied by plenty of warm drinks. It is optimal to give warm milk with honey, compotes, juices to drink, but not black tea, which tends to worsen the cough.

When coughing, do not gargle with soda solution - soda dries out the mucous membrane, which leads to increased irritation.

In the room where the child is located, it is necessary to ensure a comfortable temperature, a constant flow of fresh air and humidity at 70%. Walking in the fresh air is also important, but without active games. A clear daily routine, timely intake of medications, food and proper sleep are important.

Productive

A wet cough, otherwise called a productive cough, is characterized by the removal of phlegm from the bronchi. It helps in the fight against viruses. We breathe air that contains dust, germs and bacteria. All this enters through the respiratory tract into the sputum, and the cilia of the epithelium push it back. A person has difficulty breathing if there is a lot of phlegm. This happens due to atmospheric conditions, colds or smoking. The body reacts to the accumulation of phlegm.

After a dry cough (two days later), a wet cough appears. This fact indicates that the person has entered the recovery stage. But there are cases when it characterizes other ailments - it could be pneumonia or tuberculosis.

Cough (productive or wet) may be intermittent or constant

, flow weakly or, on the contrary, strongly, and the sputum is liquid or thick.
The color of the secreted sputum varies: white, transparent, green, yellow or brown. The color determines at what stage the disease process is
.

With a bright yellow color, the level of eosinophils in the body is increased, this happens with bronchial asthma. And with lobar pneumonia, the sputum comes out brown or rusty in color. With pneumoconiosis, the sputum is black. During normal respiratory illnesses, colorless, yellowish or greenish mucus is discharged.

Diseases are dangerous when sputum contains blood clots

. The patient may develop Goodpasture's syndrome, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, or pulmonary embolism. Don't try to suppress a wet cough! It removes mucus from the bronchi and prevents harmful bacteria from developing.

How does a productive and non-productive cough manifest itself?

A “wet” cough, also called productive, occurs against the background of copious mucus secretions. This is a sign that the body is getting rid of pathogenic microflora in the respiratory tract, which caused the disease. Often the causes of such ailment are infectious or “contagious” in nature.

Suppression of a productive cough is highly undesirable, and the secreted sputum should be spat out. If mucus is swallowed or “sucked in,” the released bacteria and viruses are released back into the body.

A nonproductive or “dry” cough is characterized by the absence of mucous secretions. This is a reflex reaction indicating increased irritability of receptors in the respiratory tract, which can occur for a number of reasons. As a rule, a dry, “irritated” cough causes much more discomfort to the patient, because the attacks are longer and more severe than with a wet one.

Cough, unproductive or productive, is not an independent disease; it is a sign of a number of different disorders in the body. In case of prolonged illness, you should consult a specialist: correct diagnosis and timely assistance will lead to a speedy recovery.

Reflex

Occurs as a result of pathological actions in the human nasopharynx. If left untreated, it will develop into a chronic form and its symptoms will resemble bronchial asthma. A reflex cough is a sign of serious illness. Signs may include: arterial hypertension, chronic neurosis, heart failure, etc.

A reflex cough in a child can occur when interacting with allergens. For one child, it is enough to smell the allergen, while for another, it is necessary to touch or eat it. Gastroesophageal reflux also provokes the appearance of a reflex cough in a child. The appearance is also caused by a lack of iodine in the body and an enlarged thyroid gland.

If the child is overly excitable, a reflex cough may appear. Frequent neuroses cause an attack in which the child does not have enough air, he begins to choke and it becomes difficult for him to breathe.

Diagnostics

The onset of a cough indicates that an inflammatory process has begun in the human body. The function of the upper respiratory tract is impaired. To get the right treatment, you need to consult a specialist.

Prescribe treatment that depends on symptoms and underlying causes.

Wet cough therapy

Productive cough is treated with expectorant medications

. When taken, the functions of the ciliated epithelium are restored and the properties of sputum change. Recipes for folk remedies can be added.

You should not take medications to suppress the cough reflex. To thin the mucus, you need to drink more liquid and do steam inhalations. Be sure to consult a doctor to begin treatment correctly.

If the cause is a viral infection, then antibiotics cannot be used in this case.

, they may cause a side effect and the patient’s condition will become worse. Pathogenic bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics and an allergic reaction may also occur.

Dry cough therapy

Unproductive is treated by suppressing the cough reflex

. Medications containing codeine are prescribed. It reduces the excitability of the cough center in the medulla oblongata. Drugs with a local anesthetic effect are also used; they reduce the excitability of the mucous membrane. The cough reflex decreases and treatment becomes effective. The patient is given warm milk with butter, tea with raspberry jam or lemon.

Nonproductive cough: treatment in two ways

1. By conversion to a productive cough.
2. Stop treatment with antitussives.

After examination by a doctor, the necessary treatment is prescribed. This cough can be treated with folk remedies. Productive and non-productive coughs can be cured quickly if treatment is started in the early stages of the disease.

Nonproductive cough in a child

The child’s body does not have a strong immune system that could resist the disease on its own.

Causes of symptoms in a child

The disease is treated with medications that strengthen the immune system and folk remedies are used. Antiviral drugs and antibiotics are prescribed in extreme cases.

They try to convert a dry cough into a wet cough as quickly as possible. Sputum, with the bacteria it contains, begins to leave the body, and the disease subsides. Antitussives are prescribed to prevent irritation to the respiratory organs. But more often combined drugs are prescribed; they have an antitussive and expectorant effect. These products are: “Stoptussin”, “Sinekod”, “Codelac”, “Bronchicum”, “Gerbion”. The drugs produce a wet cough.

After their use, mucolytic agents are prescribed. They thin the mucus and allow it to come out faster.

How to carry out treatment?

The main principle of treating this condition of the body is to transform a dry cough into a wet one. As soon as sputum begins to be released from the bronchi, it means that the patient begins to recover, because in this way particles of infection are removed from the respiratory tract.

When treating a nonproductive cough, at the beginning of therapy, specialists prescribe bronchodilators that promote expectoration. In general, therapy depends on the cause of the symptom: if it is caused by an allergy, then antihistamines cannot be avoided, but if an infection has entered the body, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. If the disease is of infectious origin, treatment of dry non-productive cough is carried out with mucolytics. Drugs such as Ambroxol and Bromhexine are widely used. In terms of their effectiveness, such drugs as Folkodin, Codterpin, Eufillin, Budesonide are not inferior to them.

Pediatricians prescribe syrups and mixtures for children - marshmallow and licorice root syrup, Bronholitin, Lazolvan, Ambroxol, Doctor Mom, Salbutamol, Sinekod.

It is important not to start the inflammatory process, manifested by a non-productive cough, by promptly contacting a doctor who will prescribe adequate treatment.

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on ““Nonproductive cough: causes, manifestations and treatment features””

1. Lika Donchenko:

   03/15/2017 at 15:40

   Good Prospan syrup. I treated myself with it and treated my children in the winter. Does not cause allergies or addiction.

   Login to reply

   Anna:

   11/22/2017 at 10:54 pm

   We liked it too. It’s good that it’s plant-based, so it’s not scary to give it to a child. The pediatrician said that even infants can take Prospan, but we are already 8. Just the other day, the cough was cured.

   Login to reply

2. Galina:

   01/17/2017 at 00:40

   You need to help your lungs, because your throat hurts and your cough irritates you. We use a nebulizer and do inhalations with Prospan. The neck feels better after the procedure and everything inside is moisturized. Don’t forget to drink plenty of warm liquids, which will also help thin the mucus.

   Login to reply

3. Ira:

   12/06/2016 at 21:08

   Just last month I treated a child for a dry cough. As prescribed by the doctor, I gave my son Prospan syrup. Over the course of a day, he began to cough less often and the sputum gradually began to come out.

   Login to reply

4. Irina:

   10/26/2016 at 10:23 pm

   The baby has been suffering from obstructive bronchitis since she was 6 months old. We tried a lot of things to treat cough. I can recommend the drug "Rengalin". It is suitable for both non-productive and productive coughs in children from three years of age. It also has antihistamine properties. Available in both lozenges and solution. Miracle remedy

   Login to reply

5. Olga:

   01/12/2016 at 13:37

   I recently had laryngitis. Such an infection... the dry cough gave me no rest, and my throat was also sore. She was treated with Prospan by inhalation. This helped me a lot in relieving my condition. After the procedure, the soreness went away almost immediately. And I treated my cough for 6 days.

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6. Lena:

   12/10/2015 at 16:41

   Just because a medicine doesn't work doesn't mean it's not right for you. Time needs to pass. Although I personally don’t like licorice root at all. We were scheduled to sleep for the last time. I noticed the result by the evening. The child cleared his throat.

   Login to reply

7. Snezhana Doskalenko:

   12/17/2014 at 23:22

   Great article, very informative. This is the second time I've come across it. The first time I was looking for a remedy for a dry cough, which was simply tormenting me, at that time I had already tried almost all the drugs available in the pharmacy, mucolytic and expectorant, so on the Internet I was looking for some new, good remedy. One woman, a doctor, recommended omnitus to me, how grateful I am to her! It became my real salvation, for the first time in several weeks I fell asleep normally and slept through the night without waking up every half hour from coughing. Now, from the height of my experience, I can say with confidence that butamirate-based antitussives are the best option.

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8. Zhannochka Podchumacheva:

   12/16/2014 at 21:30

   I would also like to add one point about Omnitus: it does not contain codeine, although it also affects the cough center in the medulla oblongata, but, unlike codeine, it does not depress breathing and is not addictive. A good drug that can be given to children from three years old.

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9. Sofia Vysotskaya:

   12/14/2014 at 19:47

   I always take inhalations when I cough, so the medicine goes straight into the lungs, so this method is the most effective.

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10. Tamila Novikova:

    12/13/2014 at 21:54

    When I have a dry cough, I always drink Althea syrup, it helps me a lot, so I gave it to my son without any second thoughts, but he started vomiting, they called an ambulance, they said it was from the syrup (plus the next day he was covered in red spots, in general, allergic reaction). But the doctor prescribed us another medicine - Omnitus, a good remedy, the cough went away quickly. I will now buy this syrup in case of severe dry cough.

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11. Alisa Tomina:

    12/11/2014 at 12:47

    I would like to clarify that not all drugs listed in the article are expectorants. The same Sinekod is a cough suppressant, I know for sure, I’ve taken it more than once. Although I recently switched to Omnitus, the cough stops instantly; if the cough is unproductive, dry, hysterical, then there is no better remedy.

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12. Ilona Karimova:

    12/10/2014 at 20:02

    My son is coughing, the cough is dry, today we went to the doctor, he prescribed us licorice root, but I haven’t seen any results yet.

    Login to reply

Prevention

• To prevent the disease from appearing, it is necessary to regularly strengthen the immune system; for this purpose, Derinat is used. If you regularly give your child this drug, the cough will bypass him.
• Take care of personal hygiene, wash your hands often, especially after walking with your child.
• Constantly ventilate the child’s room; the air temperature in it should not exceed 24 °C, then treatment will not be required at all.

A symptom such as cough occurs when the body needs to get rid of any irritants. Moreover, these may include not only dust or pollen, but also microorganisms that cause certain infections. There are two main types of cough – wet and dry. The second is also called unproductive, since it does not produce sputum. This symptom, unlike a wet cough, does not alleviate the patient’s condition, but, on the contrary, causes him severe discomfort and may be accompanied by pain in the throat and chest.

A non-productive cough - in both a child and an adult - can be a consequence of the development of one of the following diseases:

In addition, a non-productive cough can occur due to non-compliance with humidity conditions, staying in a gassy, ​​dusty or smoky room. To eliminate this problem, it is enough to simply do wet cleaning every day, wipe dust from all surfaces, and do not smoke in the house (especially for rooms in which there is a small child).

To minimize the risk of a child developing a symptom such as a dry cough, Dr. Komarovsky and other renowned experts strongly recommend taking the following preventive measures:

• Maintain perfect cleanliness in the room, do wet cleaning daily;
• do not keep pets in the house. It is also advisable to remove from the room those plants that can cause allergic reactions;
• Constantly monitor the humidity level. It is best to purchase a special device that will do this for you;
• completely eliminate smoking indoors, as well as the use of any chemicals with a strong odor - nail polish and nail polish remover, hairspray, perfume or eau de toilette, air fresheners;
• wash children's clothes and bedding only with anti-allergenic detergents;

Treating dry cough at home

A non-productive cough can be successfully treated without consulting a doctor (but without consulting a doctor, we still do not recommend using any medications or traditional methods). First, you need to provide all the conditions for the child’s rapid recovery:

• Give him as much fluid as possible to drink. Fruit drinks, herbal or fruit teas are best;
• Feed the child only soft foods that do not irritate the throat and respiratory tract. An excellent option is mashed potatoes, porridge, low-fat soups;
• adhere to the cleaning rules mentioned above.

In addition, you can use some useful traditional medicine recipes that make it possible to alleviate the condition of a small patient:

• Mix black radish juice with honey. We give the child this composition 3 times a day, a dessert spoon, immediately after meals;
• mix cow or goat milk with freshly squeezed carrot juice;
• We brew tea with medicinal herbs such as coltsfoot, marshmallow, licorice root, wild rosemary. It is best to do this in a thermos and give the child a drink throughout the day;
• make lollipops from melted sugar with a little milk. They perfectly soften the throat and also help to significantly speed up the healing process.

A wide variety of warming compresses, mustard plasters, and pepper plaster are excellent for dry coughs (the latter is best used only for adults). In order to alleviate the child's condition, you can also do inhalations with soda, mineral water, essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree, orange, lemon, lavender.

Treatment of persistent cough

The longer you ignore the symptoms, the more difficult it is to remove them. But even with a neglected form, there is a chance to eliminate the problem. Alex-Plus, sage and Codelac will help. Dosage forms differ in composition and abilities.

Codelac comes in two forms: tablets and syrup. When using two options, the old form of cough will stop bothering the person. The mucus collected in the bronchi begins to disappear quickly, since the drug is plant-based. Within a week, the medicine will help you recover. Following the instructions, drink up to 4 times a day after meals.

Sage in tablet form not only tastes good, but is also more beneficial than a regular decoction of dry herbs. Plant components preserved and increased:

• Ephedrine helps relieve swelling, inflammation of the larynx and respiratory system;
• to suppress cough, as well as in cases when the throat begins to sore, glaucine is increased.

Sage is prescribed to drink 3-4 times a day, 2 tablets. In the initial stages of the development of the disease with coughing and tickling, 1 tablet is enough, but 4 times a day.

Along with drug therapy aimed at eliminating dry cough, it is recommended to start taking Alex-Plus lozenges.

Stops the development of the pathological process. It has established itself as an antitussive with an expectorant effect. For a quick recovery (up to three days), an adult should dissolve the lozenge at least 4 times a day.

To clear and thin bronchial mucus

Three drugs that will significantly alleviate the patient’s condition in the presence of symptoms, transferring him to a wet state, simultaneously removing phlegm: Tercodin, Cofanol and Bronchicum.

The latter is available in the form of syrup. A course of treatment of at least 10-14 days with these medications will eliminate the problem and prevent a relapse.

Antibacterial drugs

If you need to quickly relieve a dry cough, experts prescribe Sumamed. You can buy it in the form of tablets or powder. It will help with long-term, debilitating cough reflex. In the presence of chronic disease, it is suitable as the main therapeutic agent.

Not all antibacterial agents have a minimum list of contraindications and adverse reactions for dry symptoms. But Cephalexin, when dosed correctly and taken every 6 hours, is just such a drug. The course of therapy is up to 5 days.

Hexapneumin will help defeat bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms. Strong effect on the body. It is prescribed only if the dry cough remains unchanged after a week of treatment.

Homeopathy

Most people suffering from seasonal colds and reflex bronchial spasms know about the properties and capabilities of Herbion. The product is suitable for children, adults, and during pregnancy, as it has no adverse reactions.

Except for one thing: hypersensitivity to the components. The main component is plantain. The plant can also be used in the form of a decoction or infusion made at home.

Drug treatment

For young children, specialists most often prescribe exclusively cough syrups, which dilute mucus, simplify its separation from tissues and improve the process of elimination from the body. These include, for example, Bromhexine, Ambroxol and other drugs that contain a low concentration of the active substance.

The following medications may be prescribed for older children and adults:

• mucolytics, as well as expectorant tablets - Mucaltin, the same Ambroxol and Bromhexine, ACC, Bronholitin and others;
• drugs that suppress the cough reflex. They are suitable if the symptom is caused by an allergic reaction, heart disease or an attack of bronchial asthma. These include Tusuprex, Sinekod, Glauvent. In particularly difficult cases, the doctor may prescribe narcotic drugs - Codeine, Morphine, Demorphan, Hydrocodone. These medications are available by prescription only and are not prescribed to children as they are addictive;
• for allergies, antihistamines are also prescribed, which eliminate not only a dry cough, but also other symptoms - conjunctivitis, runny nose and others;
• combination drugs that affect both sputum and the cough itself - Stoptussin, Butamirate, Prothiazine.

A dry cough - both in a child and an adult - can be a very dangerous condition, so it is better to consult a doctor immediately after its appearance and undergo the necessary tests for an accurate diagnosis.

Our airways are lined with mucous membranes that produce mucus. It, in turn, performs useful functions - it maintains humidity and is a trap for germs and dust. Excessive mucus production is a consequence of inflammation in the respiratory system. With a large amount of mucus, the receptors are irritated, and a cough occurs.

The main function of a cough is to clear the airways. Tiny villi in the mucous membrane guide mucus toward the exit of the respiratory tract, clearing the lungs. Many respiratory infections begin with, which gradually becomes moist, productive. This type of cough can also be called “good”, as it brings relief to the body.

You can determine the disease by the color of sputum. If the sputum is yellow or green, then the body is in the process of fighting an infection. Brown or gray color indicates the presence of tar in the lungs as a result of smoking or inhaling large amounts of dust. Allergic conditions cause the secretion of clear mucus.

When does the disease occur and how does it manifest?

A nonproductive cough occurs without phlegm and is characterized by dry mucous membranes, which is manifested by a sore throat during coughing attacks. It is based on excessive irritation of the respiratory tract during the inflammatory process. It is of a reflex nature and, as a rule, accompanies diseases such as rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, when coughing attacks can torment the patient for a long time. The occurrence of a dry non-productive cough can also be caused by the following reasons:

• allergy;
• viral diseases;
• side effects of certain medications;
• obstruction of the respiratory tract as a result of food ingestion;
• narrowing of the airways;
• bronchiolitis;
• penetration of infection into the respiratory tract;
• croup

A prolonged dry cough that bothers the patient for more than a week may indicate the development of an allergy or bronchospasm. This condition is especially dangerous for children. Allergies can also be recognized by signs such as sneezing, and bronchospasm is manifested by coughing attacks at night. This sign may also indicate the development of bronchial asthma, while the patient experiences wheezing and shortness of breath, and is bothered by heaviness and chest pain.

You should know that a dry cough is not always caused by diseases of the respiratory system. Often such a symptom is observed with the development of pathological processes in the gastrointestinal tract, for example, when stomach acid enters the esophagus. This cough usually occurs with heartburn or after a person has eaten a heavy meal.

Pharyngitis

One of the common diseases in which the patient is bothered by attacks of unproductive cough is pharyngitis. When the pharynx is inflamed, this process is debilitating, which interferes with restful sleep. As a rule, acute pharyngitis occurs due to acute respiratory viral infection or bacterial infection. Chronic inflammation of the pharynx occurs in the following cases:

• prolonged inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses;
• constant irritation of the throat from tobacco smoke;
• hypothermia.

Patients complain of symptoms such as a sore throat, excessive dryness and sore throat. In some cases, there may be a slight increase in body temperature, which does not require the use of antipyretic drugs.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx is accompanied by hoarseness and a dry, suffocating cough. The disease occurs when viruses and bacteria enter the respiratory tract or inhale hot or cold air. .

Especially dangerous for children is false croup, which occurs against the background of stenosing laryngitis, which is characterized by narrowing of the airways. The child is bothered by a barking cough, which causes vomiting, wheezing is heard when crying, and the body temperature rises.

If the condition worsens and medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, the child’s skin turns blue, breathing becomes more frequent, and wheezing becomes audible even in a calm state. All these symptoms indicate the approach of a critical condition - narrowing of the airways.

Lung diseases

A dry cough also bothers a person during pneumonia, while the inflammatory process in the lungs is always accompanied by a high body temperature. Such signs are also observed with pleurisy - inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs. In this case, the cough is of a reflex nature; in addition to this symptom, the patient experiences shortness of breath and a constant feeling of heaviness in the chest. In case of lung cancer, when the tumor begins to compress the bronchi, a dry, hacking cough occurs without sputum production.

Other reasons

Whooping cough in a child

Experts also name other conditions of the body that are accompanied by a dry, unproductive cough. These include the following processes:

• foreign body entering the respiratory tract;
• infectious or allergic rhinitis or sinusitis;
• tuberculosis;
• heart failure;
• otitis externa;
• whooping cough;
• neurotic or psychogenic cough.

Based on the existence of many causes of non-productive cough, its treatment should be carried out after identifying the reasons for the development of such a pathogenic process. A complete medical examination will help determine the cause of the cough, and the prescription of effective medications will eliminate this process.

Causes

There are many causes of a productive cough, such as:

• viral diseases in the resolution stage occur with a wet cough;
• infections of the lungs and upper respiratory tract (pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis or tuberculosis);
• chronic lung diseases;
• movement of gastric contents into the esophagus or symptom (GERD);
• drainage of secretions from the nasal passages into the lungs leads to a productive cough or the feeling that you constantly need to clear your throat;
• allergies cause the production of clear mucus;
• Smoking or other tobacco use causes lung damage or throat irritation.

Treatment of productive cough

If you have a productive cough you need:

• drink plenty of fluids;
• take a hot steam shower or do steam inhalations, they help thin the mucus and make it easier to remove;
• never suppress with drugs such as Codelac, Libexin, etc., as this leads to accumulation in the lungs and increases the risk of infection;
• take expectorants and thinners to help expel mucus from the lungs;
• yellow and green sputum requires treatment with antibiotics;
• Do not take antihistamines, as they dry out the mucous membranes.

In any case, you should consult a doctor and find out the cause, and not self-medicate.