When is a cough more than just an infection?

Coughing may be the most common symptom of respiratory illness. Its most important physiological role is to defend our bodies by clearing the airways of excess, thick secretions and foreign bodies. It often occurs in smokers, which may indicate a serious respiratory infection or even a serious chronic disease. It is also seen in people with colds and tonsillitis. It also occurs in inflammatory diseases of the lung parenchyma and infiltration of the lungs with a malignant tumor. Therefore, it is difficult to definitively determine its true cause based on the cough symptom alone. The most important thing for adults is to remain vigilant and, if the cough worsens, seek medical attention immediately.

Cough – its nature and origin

Coughs, depending on their duration, can be acute (lasting up to 3 weeks), subacute (lasting 3-8 weeks), or chronic (over 8 weeks). Depending on their origin, they can be caused by pulmonary and extrapulmonary factors. A correct diagnosis of the cause of cough is crucial for determining the appropriate course of further tests and effective treatment. Therefore, this symptom should not be ignored. If the cough persists for a long time and changes in its nature, an urgent consultation with a physician specializing in lung and chest diseases is necessary. High-risk individuals who should be vigilant include: smokers, asbestos and talc workers, people with a previous diagnosis of lung disease who live in areas with high air pollution levels, people with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, or family members who have had tuberculosis, and people with a family history of lung cancer. In this case, the change in the nature of a chronic cough usually occurs late. Many people ignore this symptom. He delays his visit to the doctor, which may delay diagnosis and effective treatment for potential lung cancer.

Causes of acute cough and chronic cough

Cough is a common ailment in humans that manifests itself in various stages of illness. Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa causes acute cough. The primary cause is a viral or bacterial infection. Acute cough is associated with the common cold, bronchial asthma, allergic disease of unknown etiology, allergic rhinitis, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, foreign body aspiration, bronchitis, and pneumonia. A barking cough is defined as a persistent cough associated with laryngitis, which may be accompanied by hoarseness. Chronic cough causes discomfort, fatigue, and irritability in humans. Common causes include bronchial asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and adenoid hypertrophy in children. Another type of cough is post-infectious, which is a remnant of a past infection.

Co-occurring symptoms

Symptoms that may accompany cough during illness may, to some extent, indicate potential directions for further diagnosis and treatment. These include: sore throat, fever of 38°C, runny nose, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Chronic fatigue and weight loss, particularly 10 kg over three months, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, and pain in the mediastinum around the sternum should be differentiated from the severity of coronary artery disease. These symptoms indicate an urgent need to see a doctor. Cough with respiratory distress may even require hospital admission for urgent diagnosis and treatment.

The difference between a dry and wet cough

The main difference is that a wet cough is more violent. The patient also expectorates a large amount of sputum. In the case of a dry cough, the patient experiences a sensation of irritation in the trachea, without expectoration of thick sputum. Hoarseness may accompany it. Alarming symptoms include hemoptysis, purulent sputum with high fever, prolonged cough with weight loss, loss of appetite, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, and respiratory distress.

The role of the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of cough . Summary

The primary role of the physician is to carefully and thoroughly assess the origin of the patient's cough, then diagnose it through a series of imaging tests. This can begin with a simple chest X-ray, and progress to the advanced technique of ionizing radiation, such as a computed tomography (CT) lung scan. While lung auscultation is insufficient to make a definitive diagnosis, it can aid in selecting the appropriate diagnostic approach. The physician's role is to provide the patient with a diagnostic plan for suspected pulmonary disease and to administer effective pharmacological and surgical treatment once the diagnosis is made. Ideally, this should be done as soon as possible after the patient's first visit to the doctor's office.

Dr. Tomasz Prystupa, MD, PhD,
Junior Clinical Assistant at the Department of
Thoracic Surgery, USK 4 in Lublin

Author of numerous scientific papers in the field of thoracic surgery.
Participant in national and international conferences on lung diseases treated with thoracic surgery
. At Luxmed Medical Center, the doctor provides consultations on lung diseases and surgically treated chest conditions.