Know About The Various Types of Coughs: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

A cough is a strong defensive reflex of the body to clear germs, mucus, or dust that can irritate the throat and air passage. The throat is well equipped with nerves that can sense any irritants and seek to clear them. In short, coughing helps to clear the lungs and airways.

While most coughs resolve on their own, various other forms may need remedial measures depending on their type.

Let’s look at different types of coughs - causes, symptoms, and treatment, in detail.

What is a dry cough?

A dry cough does not produce mucus (unproductive cough) or is a minimally productive cough. As the lungs and airways do not contain any mucus, nothing comes out after coughing.

A dry cough often follows a cold, viral, or respiratory infection. If it lasts for more than three weeks, it can turn into a chronic cough. Chronic dry cough may cause chest pain.

Symptoms of dry cough

The symptoms include

• A dry tickly cough that won't go away
• Irritation, dryness
• A squeezy sensation in the chest as if there is a weight kept on the chest

The cause of a wet cough is usually mucus or phlegm in the lungs or air passage mainly due to a respiratory infection.

Causes of dry cough

• Post-infection recovery causes a lingering dry cough.
• Exposure to chemicals, irritants, or allergies causes cough due to swelling of the air passage.
• Asthma: Cough may be the only symptom in cough variant asthma.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Induces cough due to acid reflux
• Smoking: Cough may happen as a temporary reaction to smoke. It can also be a sign of a more serious problem like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder).
• Bronchitis: Inflammation of the airways that connect the windpipe to the lungs. It is caused by cold or viruses.

A dry cough with wheezing can linger for weeks and trigger vomiting.

Treatment of dry cough

Dry coughs can cause discomfort and irritation. However, different medications may help ease the cough like decongestants (treat sinus and common cold) and cough suppressants (block cough reflex).

Home remedies for treating dry cough

• Try hot tea with honey or lemon to help soothe the throat.
• Suck on a hard candy or lozenge. This promotes saliva production and can ease an irritated throat.
• Having a spoonful of honey is very effective in relieving the cough.

Seeking Medical Aid

Seek doctor’s advice in case of any below-mentioned symptoms:

• Blood in mucus
• Extreme tiredness
• Sudden chest pain
• Fever with chills
• Breathing difficulty or wheezing

Wet or productive cough

“Batuk basah” or wet cough is often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It produces mucus and a feeling as though something is stuck in the chest. It also brings up mucus in the mouth. A wet cough is often a sign that the body is producing more mucus than it normally does. A cough that lasts for more than six weeks can be considered a chronic wet cough.

Sometimes, it leads to the production of green phlegm in the throat. Blood may be noticeable in mucus, hinting at a serious underlying condition. The cough often gets worse at night as the mucus collects at the back of the throat when one is lying down.

Symptoms of wet cough

• Fever
• Breathlessness
• Wheezing
• Chest pain

Causes of wet cough

A wet cough may turn chronic due to upper and lower respiratory infections like:

• Pneumonia: It is associated with extreme bouts of coughing and vomiting due to mucus expelled from the lungs or postnasal drip.
• Pulmonary embolism: This condition involves blockage of pulmonary artery.
• Tuberculosis: Serious bacterial infection in which cough lingers for months.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD): This damages the lungs and bronchial tubes.
• Bronchitis: This can cause a cough with large amount of mucus and vomiting.

Treatment of wet cough

Treatment of wet cough aims to suppress it and clear the mucus from the air passage. Specific treatments include:

Expectorants: They loosen and expel the cough from the lungs.

Mucolytics: These help to break down sticky mucus making it easier to throw out the cough.

Home remedies for wet cough

Steam inhalation: Steam helps to break the mucus that causes a productive cough.

Taking a hot water bath: A steamy shower bath can help break the mucus in the chest. Try to stay in the bathroom for about five minutes after the bath.

Have a spoonful of honey: Raw honey helps relieve congestion caused by a productive cough.

Herbal cough drops: Natural cough drops that contain eucalyptus, sage, thyme, honey, or peppermint can help relieve congestion and cool the airways.

Staying hydrated: Try drinking plenty of water to keep adequately hydrated. This can help loosen the mucus.

Herbal teas: Ginger tea, thyme tea, and clove tea are packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as they soothe inflammation and provide hydration.

Seeking medical aid

Most coughs resolve on their own. However, if they continue for several weeks, they may turn into dry coughs. If the cough gets progressively worse and doesn’t improve after three weeks, consider seeing a doctor.

Barking cough

Barking cough stems from an upper respiratory tract infection called croup. This causes swelling of the windpipe and vocal cords. When air is forced out of the swollen vocal passage, it produces a sound like a seal barking. This type of raspy (hoarse) cough can last for a couple of hours and appear again for a couple of nights.

Symptoms

• Labored breathing
• Difficulty in breathing
• Hoarse voice

Causes of barking cough

It is usually caused by a viral infection, most often a para influenza virus.

Treating barking cough

A physician will prescribe medication depending on the severity of the condition. However, adopting simple remedial measures like having enough fluids and keeping the pillow elevated while lying down can help manage the condition at home.

Seeking medical aid:

• If barking cough comes along with fever lasting more than three days.
• If the condition lasts more than a week.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

“Batuk- Kokol” or whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It causes a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched sound called ‘whoop’, after inhalation.

Symptoms

It takes about 10 days (about one and a half weeks) for symptoms to appear after catching the infection.

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Mild fever

Symptoms often worsen after 1 to 2 weeks. The nasal airways get covered with thick mucus that causes uncontrollable coughing. Severe prolonged attacks can provoke vomiting, cause severe fatigue, and result in a red or blue face.

Causes of Whooping Cough

This is a serious bacterial infection caused by ‘Bordetella Pertussis’.

Treatment for whooping cough

Unfortunately, there is not much to relieve a whooping cough. However, some self-care tips can help manage the condition.

Self-care tips include:

• Drinking sufficient fluids
• Getting plenty of rest
• Eating smaller meals to avoid vomiting
• Washing hands frequently
• Using a clean humidifier to loosen the mucus

Seeking medical aid:

A doctor will diagnose the condition and prescribe antibiotics to reduce the severity of the condition. Report the condition immediately in case of breathing difficulty or case of any signs of dehydration.

Psychogenic cough

This kind of cough usually begins with an upper respiratory tract infection, but the cough persists even after the symptoms are resolved. The cough is typically harsh (raspy), barking, and non-productive.

Symptoms of psychogenic cough

Severe cough which presents with a loud, barking, honking, and/or barking sound

Causes of psychogenic cough

Persistent psychogenic cough can arise due to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Treatment of psychogenic cough

First, it is important to understand that the cough is not serious. A simple assurance that the cough is not serious will help resolve the symptoms. Since this kind of cough can irritate the air passage, it is important to break the cough cycle. A glass of warm water helps suppress the cough.

Seeking medical aid

Seek a doctor's help to diagnose the cause of the cough to initiate the appropriate treatment.

Allergic cough

An allergic cough happens due to the presence of an allergen that the immune system recognizes as dangerous, though it’s not.

It may feel as though something is irritating or tickling the back of the throat. This type of cough is dry and sometimes produces a “barking” or “hacking” sound.

Symptoms that accompany an allergic cough

• Congestion
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Tiredness
• Sinus headache

Causes of allergic cough

Some of the common triggers include

• Dust or mites
• Cockroaches
• Animal urine, saliva, or dander
• Mold spores
• Pollens

Treatment

Nasal sprays, cough lozenges, and decongestants are some of the commonly available options that can help clear the nasal passage and soothe the cough.

Home remedies for allergic cough

Honey, turmeric, ginger, licorice root, and thyme are some warm and soothing options to relieve a dry cough. These can also be taken in the form of herbal teas.

Seeking medical aid

If the allergy gets severe and starts affecting routine, then pay a visit to an allergist to rule out the allergic triggers.

Conclusion

Managing cough, the right way helps clear mucus from the lungs and air passage. While many coughs like those that accompany cold or flu might resolve on their own, a long-lasting cough might indicate inflammation of the lungs and upper airways.

If the cough is accompanied by any severe condition, then a thorough diagnosis of the type of cough – Symptoms, causes, and treatment is necessary.

Type of cough – Symptoms, cause, and treatment There are various forms of highly effective local remedial measures, easily available at home, which can help alleviate cough symptoms. If a cough worsens over a period or persists for a longer time, then the doctor is just a call away!