Should You Be Worried About Your Dry Cough?

A dry cough is one that produces no phlegm or mucus (known as non-productive). A tickly throat is usually associated with a dry cough, which is irritating. Dry coughs are most commonly caused by viral infections like colds and flu, but they can also be caused by allergies or throat irritants.

The cause of a dry cough will determine the appropriate treatment.

What is the average duration of a cough?

Coughs caused by a cold or the flu usually last a week or two, with most people recovering in about three weeks. A post-viral cough can last for several weeks (up to 8) after a viral infection, but some coughs last longer and are usually a sign of an underlying issue.

Coughs in adults and children are classified as acute (short-term) if they last for more than two weeks. A chronic (ongoing) persistent cough in adults is defined as a cough that lasts more than 8 weeks. A prolonged acute cough in children is defined as a cough that lasts 2 to 4 weeks. A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts for more than four weeks. Suburban Wellness SC, one of the finest Cough Treatment Clinic Homer Glen, offers highly convenient care at affordable rates. 

Causes of dry cough

A dry cough is often the result of:

• a viral illness, such as influenza (the flu), cold or COVID-19 
• a post-infectious, or post-viral cough

A dry cough, on the other hand, can be caused by a variety of issues, including:

• asthma;
• smoking;
• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is caused by inhaling allergens such as pollen, dust, or pet dander.
• gastro-oesophageal reflux;
• laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx(voice box));
• obstructive sleep apnea and snoring;
• an inhaled foreign body (e.g. food or other objects accidentally being inhaled – usually in babies and small children);
• a side effect from a medicine

When should you seek medical assistance for a dry cough?

You should seek medical advice if:

• you cough up blood or a lot of mucus (phlegm);
• you are short of breath or wheezy;
• the cough is mainly at night;
• you have associated chest pain;
• you have a fever;
• you are a cigarette smoker;
• you have a hoarse voice;
• you're experiencing other symptoms such as a persistent headache, sore ears, or a rash;
• if you've recently lost weight or if you're experiencing muscle aches in general;
• The cough is in a child under the age of six months;
• the cough has lasted more than ten days, with little or no improvement; or
• If you have high blood pressure, a heart condition, a respiratory illness (such as asthma), gastrointestinal issues, or are taking any other medications, you should consult your doctor.

Trust your Physician

Coughs that come with a cold usually go away in one to two weeks. Because it's not uncommon to be infected with multiple viruses at the same time, symptoms may overlap and last longer from beginning to end. Viruses are almost always to blame.

Your Family Medicine Specialist in Homer Glen, Dr. Sudarsana Chakrabarti, is the expert here - she can advise you on all sorts of remedies, depending on what combination of symptoms you have. For instance, with a chesty cough, you bring up yellow or green phlegm or mucus, while a dry, tickly cough usually doesn't come with any sputum. Dr. Chakrabarti believes in treating her patients with a personal touch, which has proven to be effective in the treatment of some very serious cases. She treats her patients as her family. You can connect with her over the Telemedicine services powered by PatientMD from the comfort of your home. 

You'll get the best results from the medicines prescribes by her for the kind of cough you have. The Suburban Wellness SC clinic is one of the best and reputed clinics for cough treatment. We also offer pulmonary respiratory care for people. Call us at 708-737-7136, to get the best and the most affordable treatment!