Dry paroxysmal cough leading to vomiting in an adult: how to treat

What is a cough? This is the reaction of our respiratory system to external or internal stimuli. The nature of the cough varies. Dry or wet, with sputum production, which causes a rather unpleasant sensation in the sick person.

A dry paroxysmal cough leading to vomiting in an adult is an indicator of inflammation, foreign body entry or an allergic reaction of the respiratory system. The air flow leaves the lungs without secretions, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is irritated.

A dry paroxysmal cough leading to vomiting in an adult is an indicator of inflammation, foreign body entry or an allergic reaction of the respiratory system

A spasm of dry paroxysmal cough occurs, which can lead to vomiting in an adult, cause small blood vessels to rupture, and damage the mucous membrane.

Causes

In most cases, cough occurs due to a common cold. But if it is not treated in time, then it can develop into a more serious disease. Convulsive attacks during contraction of the diaphragm can provoke this symptom. Another reason for a vomiting cough is the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx. When phlegm flows down the walls of the throat, it causes nausea and provokes vomiting. The reasons for such urges may be an untreated chronic cough, which contributes to the development of serious diseases.

This unpleasant symptom most often accompanies colds or viral diseases, which include bronchitis, influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and tracheitis. But sometimes it can be caused by other diseases.

1. Influenza, parainfluenza, ARVI, acute respiratory infections. Most often, the onset of colds or viral diseases occurs with an irritating dry cough that does not clear the throat. Then it becomes moist, often with purulent sputum and is accompanied by chest pain. These diseases are accompanied by fever, lethargy, migraine, and general intoxication of the body. Sometimes there may be a strong cough to the point of vomiting.
2. Acute or chronic bronchitis. The acute form of the disease is characterized by a strong wet cough with the discharge of watery mucus. Chronic disease occurs with a more muffled barking cough. Most often, the patient coughs in a cold or dusty room. In the morning, the signs of bronchitis worsen, and an attack can cause vomiting.
3. Pneumonia. It is always accompanied by a strong deep cough, fever, and pain in the lungs. The coughing attack is quite strong, sometimes leading to vomiting. Specific “rusty” sputum may appear.
4. Tracheitis. It occurs with a loud cough, specific chest pain, fever, and weakness. The attack begins suddenly, after inhaling cool air or smoke, along with purulent sputum.
5. Allergy. Convulsive contraction of the diaphragm during allergies often provokes an uncontrollable cough in an adult, sometimes leading to vomiting. In addition, the disease is accompanied by a runny nose and sneezing. Most often, this reaction occurs through direct contact with the allergen. It is usually a seasonal disease, characterized by exacerbations in spring and summer.
6. Bronchial asthma. This disease is accompanied by attacks of suffocation, dry cough and vomiting. Most often, these unpleasant symptoms appear at the initial stage of the disease. But sometimes they bother people with chronic bronchial asthma.
7. Ascariasis. During the movement of worms in the lungs, an adult develops a dry, painful cough that leads to vomiting. The disease may be accompanied by fever and skin rashes. Ascariasis causes accumulation of pus in the lungs, intestinal obstruction, and liver disease.
8. Acute heart failure. This disease is characterized by a lack of air and the desire to inhale large amounts of it.
9. Tuberculosis. When this patient starts coughing, blood and mucus may come out of his mouth. The person’s general well-being deteriorates, an elevated temperature is noted for a long time, and at night the attack only intensifies. Most often at night, patients suffer from severe sweating and chills.
10. Lungs' cancer. If an adult with a prolonged severe cough has no fever, this may be a sign of lung cancer. Having discovered this symptom, you need to consult a doctor in order to begin treatment as soon as possible.
11. Gallbladder diseases. A person may experience an uncontrollable coughing attack, leading to vomiting. This usually occurs at night, accompanied by cramps in the thighs and legs, the soles of the feet may also burn, hot sweating and pain in the eyes may appear.

Often a cough with vomiting occurs in an adult smoker due to the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx.

Vomiting when coughing in an adult has another reason - immune, endocrine disorders, liver disease and taking certain medications.

Why does a person vomit from coughing?

The mechanism of vomiting during a cough attack is of a complex reflex nature. The cough and vomiting centers are located in the medulla oblongata. When both are irritated, a person develops a vomiting cough. Regurgitation (reverse movement) of the food coma is provoked by irritation of the receptors.

During a coughing attack, the abdominal muscles contract, which sometimes causes vomiting. A productive cough is accompanied by the release of bronchopulmonary secretions (sputum), which irritates the cough receptors in the throat as it moves along the respiratory tract.

Allergy

Diseases of allergic origin are often accompanied by a spasmodic dry cough. Inflammation and swelling of the respiratory system are provoked by allergens:

• dust mites;
• household chemicals;
• traffic fumes;
• perfumery;
• animal hair;
• fungal spores, etc.

The disease begins with a tickling in the throat, sneezing, runny nose, cough. Because of this, contractions occur in the intestines, leading to vomiting.

If left untreated, the pathology can cause bronchial asthma or lead to laryngeal stenosis, which causes rapid death.

During a prolonged attack, the food lump from the intestines first disappears into the stomach, and from there into the respiratory tract and mouth.

Heart failure

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system are sometimes accompanied by a non-productive periodic cough. Due to lack of oxygen in the body, the patient begins to suffocate. The following symptoms indicate cardiac pathology:

• dyspnea;
• wheezing when breathing;
• cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the skin;
• hemoptysis;
• cardiopalmus.

A cough attack leads to an increase in the tone of the abdominal muscles and relaxation of the alimentary tract in its upper part. For this reason, the patient experiences nausea and vomiting.

Nervous cough

Strong experiences sometimes cause coughing attacks with vomiting in a child or adult. Excessive loads on the central nervous system disrupt the functioning of the medulla oblongata, and erroneous activation of the cough and vomiting centers occurs. Vomiting attacks can be caused by:

• car crashes;
• tense family situation;
• aversion to work;
• public performance;
• recent loss of parents and close relatives.

To eliminate psychogenic cough and gagging, it is necessary to normalize the psycho-emotional background. If a person cannot cope with the problem on his own, it is worth contacting a psychoanalyst.

Bronchial asthma

The disease is characterized by obstruction (narrowing) of the bronchi against the background of allergic reactions and immune disorders. Allergens provoke swelling of the mucous membranes, which causes:

• debilitating cough;
• feeling of chest constriction;
• difficulty breathing;
• wheezing;
• vomiting

Asthma is dangerous due to pneumothorax - damage to the lungs and penetration of air into the pleural cavity.

Oncological diseases

A nonproductive cough with vomiting for 4 weeks or more sometimes indicates cancer. Malignant and benign tumors in the respiratory organs lead to irritation of sensory receptors, which causes attacks with vomiting. Tumor pathologies are also indicated by:

• slight increase in temperature;
• fast fatiguability;
• discomfort in the throat;
• hard breathing (with lung cancer).

How to treat cough before vomiting

This unpleasant symptom requires very serious treatment. To eliminate it, you must contact a specialist and undergo a series of relevant tests.

How to treat a cough before visiting a doctor? Until the cause is determined, you can only use methods that alleviate the patient’s condition: inhalation, rubbing, warm, copious drinks.

Warm milk with honey and butter, medicinal tea with ginger, viburnum, linden, raspberries, and currants are good to drink. These drinks help soothe irritated airways. The patient should eat mainly fresh vegetables and fruits.

Food should be low in calories so that the body does not waste its energy on digesting it. The patient must be given rest so that he rests and does not become overtired.

These measures can improve the patient’s well-being, but treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Medical assistance

Self-medication of cough is not recommended even for adults. The most correct solution is to contact a specialist. Taking into account the type of disease, its stage and symptoms, he will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

There are 3 types of medications used to treat cough:

• antitussives – suppress the cough reflex, reducing the sensitivity of receptors;
• mucolytic agents - dilute sputum, facilitate its removal;
• expectorants – stimulate coughing and are used to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.

For a severe dry cough, the patient is prescribed antitussive drugs - Codeine, Oxeladin.

When coughing with thick, viscous, difficult to separate sputum, mucolytics are prescribed - Ambroxol, ACC, Bromhexine.

For a productive, wet, profuse cough, expectorants are used - Mucaltin, Pertussin, Solutan.

You cannot use antitussives and expectorants at the same time, because you can provoke stagnation of sputum in the bronchi.

An adult, depending on the cause and complexity of the disease, is additionally prescribed the following medications:

• antibiotics, in the presence of a bacterial infection;
• antihistamines, if allergies exist;
• vitamin complexes;
• warming ointments for rubbing the chest and back with eucalyptus or mint;
• syrups to soften mucous membranes.

Domestic medicine provides a wide range of cough medicines, in various forms: aerosols, powders, solutions, syrups, tablets.

One of the most effective methods is considered to be inhalation using a compressor or ultrasonic inhaler with the drugs Ventolin, Dekasan, Lazolvan. The specific design of this device helps medications easily and effectively penetrate all parts of the pulmonary-bronchial system.

Treatment of cough is prescribed by a doctor on an individual basis, taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the patient’s condition. The same cough remedy can cause significant harm to the body if used incorrectly.

Folk remedies

In addition to medications, there are a large number of traditional methods of treatment that can be used at home.

1. This manifestation can be treated with a special breast mixture, which is sold in every pharmacy. It is recommended for adults to drink it 3-4 times a day.
2. You can take infusions or decoctions of medicinal plants that have an expectorant, anti-inflammatory effect: wild rosemary, oregano, St. John's wort, licorice root, plantain, chamomile, thyme, sage, rose hips, eucalyptus.
3. Rub the chest and back with honey, badger or goat fat. The procedure is carried out at night, after which you must wrap yourself in a warm scarf.
4. Mustard plasters and warm compresses help a lot.
5. You can also do steam inhalations with extracts of fir, sage and eucalyptus.
6. It is recommended to drink a lot of warm milk, tea, raspberry jam, honey, propolis.

These methods will make an adult’s cough more productive and improve his overall well-being. But if the symptoms of the disease do not decrease, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Tablets and syrups

Before treating a severe cough leading to vomiting in an adult with medications, you should consult a doctor. Therapy begins only after a diagnosis has been made and the causes of the disease have been determined. For bacterial infections of the respiratory system, antibiotics are prescribed, and for viral or fungal infections, antiviral or antimycotic (antifungal) medications are prescribed.

Suppressive cough

A very severe dry cough that causes vomiting is treated with antitussive syrups and tablets. Centrally acting drugs suppress the functions of the cough center, and peripheral ones reduce the sensitivity of sensory receptors. The treatment regimen includes the following drugs:

• Codeine;
• Tussal;
• Libexin;
• Codelac;
• Codipront;
• Terpincode.

If expectoration is good, antitussives are not used. This is fraught with impaired lung function and bacterial inflammation.

Removing phlegm

If cough and vomiting are accompanied by sputum production, mucolytic and expectorant drugs are prescribed. The former reduce its viscosity, and the latter stimulate its removal from the respiratory system. For ENT diseases, the following pharmaceuticals are used:

• ACC;
• Ambrobene;
• Bromhexine;
• Mukaltin;
• Fluicort;
• Gerbion;
• Libexin Muco;
• Bronchosan.

With the systematic use of these medications, cough productivity increases, due to which the lungs are cleared of mucus accumulations.

How to quickly relieve the condition

If you have a painful cough, especially at night, it is very important to provide first aid before being examined by a doctor. The following methods will help alleviate the patient’s condition:

• systematic ventilation, humidification of indoor air;
• drinking plenty of warm (but not hot) drinks to help remove mucus;
• steam inhalations with extracts of medicinal plants: calendula, linden, fir, chamomile, thyme, eucalyptus;
• attacks of dry cough can be relieved by tinctures of mallow and plantain leaves, inhalations with ventolin;
• with a wet cough, it is recommended to take drugs to thin the sputum to facilitate its separation and elimination.

Inhalation and rubbing should not be done at high body temperature.

What to do to avoid coughing? For prevention purposes, it is enough to follow simple recommendations:

• do not smoke or stay in smoky areas;
• do not inhale harmful chemical fumes;
• avoid hypothermia and sudden temperature changes;
• Avoid being in crowded places during an epidemic.
• regularly ventilate the apartment and humidify the air, especially when the heating is on;
• If a cough has already appeared, then it is necessary to stop its very first manifestations.

There are always specific reasons for a cough. To determine them, you need to undergo a serious examination, after which the doctor will be able to prescribe adequate treatment. Because medications prescribed for one disease may be absolutely contraindicated for another. Proper treatment will help get rid of the disease, and along with it all the unpleasant symptoms, including coughing and vomiting, will go away.