The Link Between Cough and Respiratory Infections
Introduction
Coughing is another function of the respiratory system that can be a bother and, simultaneously, a fundamental mechanism in the body. This is the body’s way of expelling irritants, mucus, and pathogens from the passageways of the living organism. A close relationship between cough and respiratory infection requires better appreciation in managing and controlling the disease.
The cough usually accompanies respiratory infections and common ailments like the flu, colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. This is because the infections affect the tract used for respiration in this method by causing inflammation and increased production of mucus. When these stimuli are present in the air, the body gets irritated, and to remove these irritants and clean the passages, it coughs.
There are two main types of cough associated with respiratory infections. These are the two most commonly used types based on the type of water used in the process; they are characterized as dry (non-productive) and wet (productive). A dry cough does not involve the production of yellow phlegm, mainly due to irritation or inflammation of the throat and the upper respiratory tract. It is primarily present in the onset of viral illnesses such as colds and the flu. On the other hand, a wet cough involves the production of clear or coloured liquid, called mucus or phlegm, that can indicate that the body is trying to expel disease from the lower part of the respiratory tract, for instance, bronchitis or pneumonia.
Duration and the accompanying signs are some of the determinants when diagnosing the cause of the cough. In patients with acute coughs of less than three weeks, the common cause is viral pathogens. A cough lasting more than eight weeks should be taken seriously as it could be due to chronic bronchitis, asthma or GERD.
In treating cough, the following is applied based on the cause: As for viral diseases, measures such as relaxations, water intake, and administration of drugs of this class can be applied. Drugs used to cure bacterial infections are antibiotics, while these do not have any effect on viruses. When a chronic cough is associated with conditions such as asthma or GERD, treatment must be directed at the particular conditions in question.
Conclusion
Preventing respiratory diseases includes proper hand washing, maintaining a distance from infected people, and receiving proper immunization. Dissecting the association between cough and respiratory infections empowers persons to seek medical attention when due and not take activities that compromise respiratory health.
