Cough - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Cough is an explosive, reflex or voluntary expiratory maneuver aimed at clearing the airways. It constitutes one of the main defense mechanisms of the respiratory tree; however it also contributes to the spread of diseases by air and can be annoying for the patient. Not surprisingly, cough is one of the main reasons why medical attention is required.

Cough can be a consequence of mechanical, chemical infections, inflammations or irritations.

Acute cough

The most frequent causes that induce the symptom in acute form (ie cough persists for less than 3 weeks) are: inflammation and infections of the upper respiratory tract (common cold, laryngitis, pharyngitis and acute bronchitis), retronasal dripping (of allergic etiology, viral or bacterial) and pneumonia (viral, bacterial, inhalation and, rarely, fungal).

To trigger the cough reflex can also be entry into the respiratory tree of foreign substances (atmospheric particulates, fragments of food or inert material), irritating gases (smoke and chemical fumes) or liquids (aerosols and droplets). Other possible causes include pulmonary embolism and heart failure.

In children, the causes of cough induction are similar to those in adults, but asthma and inhalation of foreign bodies may be more frequent. Rarely, a plug of wax or a foreign body in the external auditory canal triggers a reflex cough, through the stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

Chronic cough

Chronic cough, on the other hand, occurs in cases of bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and gastroesophageal reflux. Furthermore, it can occur in the case of smoking, airway hyperreactivity after resolution of a viral or bacterial respiratory infection (post-infectious cough), pertussis, TB or fungal infections, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, exposure to potential respiratory irritants or allergens, intake of ACE inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension, lung cancer or the presence of mediastinal masses.

Dry cough

With dry cough we mean the forced and noisy expulsion of air from the lungs, associated with irritation of the throat, but without fluid or mucous secretions. It typically arises after inhalation of irritants and aspiration of a foreign body.

Other common causes of dry cough are respiratory infections, emphysema, pleurisy, gastroesophageal reflux and asthma.

Fat cough

The fat cough, on the other hand, is accompanied by phlegm, produced mainly at the level of the bronchi. It is often associated with the presence of acute and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial mucosa), bronchopneumonia, ab ingestis pneumonia, lung carcinoma and bronchiectasis (permanent and irreversible dilation of the bronchi).