Respiratory infections are something that everyone faces almost every year. But the disease is not always in a hurry to leave us quickly. Residual cough after ARVI is not such a rare occurrence. Sometimes he torments a person for about a month.
What are the causes of this cough after SARS? Perhaps the disease has not been completely cured and turned into a more severe form - chronic bronchitis. Perhaps the reason was too dry air or adverse environmental conditions. Moreover, experts call cough after a cold or flu a natural non-pathological phenomenon in some cases. It helps to remove the remaining mucus from the respiratory tract, dead cells.
When a cough after an acute respiratory viral infection is dangerous, and when there is no reason to worry, when you need to make an appointment with the doctor, we will consider this article. We will also analyze the features of such a cough in a child, and methods of treatment.
Dangerous reasons
If a cough persists for a long time after ARVI, this may indicate a complication of the disease, the development of severe pathologies:
- Bronchial asthma.
- Heart and lung diseases.
- Various types of neoplasms localized in the lungs.
Respiratory diseases in this case serve as a provoking factor, aggravate the disease. Inflammatory processes with the formation of purulent clusters make the mucous membrane of the respiratory system too susceptible to the effects of factors that can trigger a cough.
Non-pathological causes
Cough after acute respiratory viral infections in a child and an adult in most cases is a non-pathological phenomenon. As a rule, after a while he disappears on his own. The length of this period depends on the state of the patient’s immune system, the climatic conditions in which he lives. Of great importance is the presence of such a bad habit as smoking.
Residual cough after acute respiratory viral infections, in particular, can provoke the following:
- Excessively dry air in the room where the patient is located.
- Violation of the water balance. An insufficient amount of fluid enters the patient's body.
- Re-infection with a respiratory infection.
- Nervous strain, frequent stressful situations.
- Long-term use of drugs with a vasoconstrictor effect.
Complications
Coughing after an acute viral respiratory illness is in most cases a residual symptom. It does not require treatment, eventually leaves on its own. But if a person suffers from prolonged cough after SARS, an adult or child is likely to have developed a complication.
If the cough does not go away for several weeks, a month, this may indicate the following:
- Chronical bronchitis. Accordingly, with this disease, inflammation of the bronchi is diagnosed, as well as a modification of the tissues of their walls. Such a pathology can develop quite quickly. And during the year to declare itself with several exacerbations. In the chronic type of bronchitis, the patient suffers from a protracted paroxysmal cough. In this case, purulent mucus is secreted, shortness of breath can overcome a person.
- Pneumonia. Infectious inflammatory disease that affects the lung tissue. Coughing here will not be the only symptom. Patients are tormented by pain in the sternum, severe fever, increased sweating, shortness of breath. The cough is strong, with discharge of pus and mucus.
- Whooping cough. With this disease, a lesion of the mucous membrane lining the airways is diagnosed. Pertussis is especially dangerous for children under 2 years old. The child has sudden strong bouts of barking cough. Sometimes it is so intense that it causes vomiting, difficulty breathing. At the same time, it is possible that pathology can develop not only in a child, but also in patients of a much older age.
Cough after acute respiratory viral infections in an adult in some cases can also be the following complication, a consequence of the disease:
- Tuberculosis.
- Chlamydia
- Pneumocystosis
- Mycoplasmosis
Therefore, if a cough after a cold has tormented you for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor to diagnose your condition.
When does not need to see a doctor?
Both wet and dry cough after ARVI are considered by most doctors to be a non-hazardous, natural occurrence. Moreover, beneficial to the body. Indeed, in this way the airways are cleaned. Coughing relieves them of residual mucus, dead epithelial cells.
If the patient was prescribed an adequate treatment regimen, if he followed it exactly, then after recovery he will gradually cease to torment all the characteristic symptoms of the disease. Appetite appears, body temperature normalizes, general health improves. The cough is getting weaker, his attacks worry the person less and less.
Cough after ARVI does not go away? None of the experts can name the dates when this phenomenon can begin to be considered pathological. With regards to coughing after SARS in a child, this period may be delayed for 2-4 weeks. In adults, it can take a longer time.
When should I go to the doctor?
Accordingly, a visit to the doctor is needed if you continue to suffer from coughing for 3-4 weeks after recovery. But in some cases it is necessary to seek medical help earlier if, in addition to coughing, you begin to note the following symptoms in yourself:
- Elevated body temperature.
- Systematic discharge of purulent sputum.
- Sensation of wheezing in lungs.
- The appearance of severe shortness of breath.
- Severe pain in the sternum.
- General deterioration of health.
All this may indicate the development of complications of a respiratory viral disease that require immediate treatment. Is cough contagious after ARVI? There is no single answer to the question. Even after recovery, viruses, fungi, and bacteria may remain in the patient’s body that caused the infection. And they can enter the external environment by airborne droplets with the same cough.
Features in children
We will analyze separately the effects of acute respiratory viral infections in children, symptoms and treatment of the condition. It is dangerous for young patients in that a complication in the form of whooping cough may occur. If the child has previously been vaccinated, then the disease proceeds in a mild form, without serious complications. But if the baby was not vaccinated, the consequences can be the most serious, even fatal.
The signs of pertussis infection are as follows:
- Frequent cough, but without sputum production.
- A rise in temperature to a subfebrile level.
- Slight runny nose.
Residual cough after acute respiratory viral infections in a child can also lead to a complication such as spasm of the glottis. It becomes difficult for a child to breathe air. This is accompanied by vomiting. Due to lack of oxygen, the face turns red, limbs begin to turn blue. In this case, urgent medical attention is needed.
Also, a cough left after a cold may indicate the development of an allergic reaction. Therefore, an appeal to a pediatrician is required here.
In some cases, a residual cough may indicate an untreated runny nose. Mucus from the nose flows down the back of the larynx, annoying her. The cough here will be dry, without sputum production.
Diagnostics
The treating doctor can present clinical recommendations for ARVI only after a comprehensive diagnosis. For this, sometimes a visual examination of the patient, familiarization with his complaints of symptoms is not enough. Especially in case of suspected complication of ARVI.
In any case, with a protracted cough after recovery, you need to contact a specialist - self-medication can only aggravate your condition. In particular, the patient will be assigned the following:
- Fluorography.
- Roentgenography.
- Clinical blood test.
- General blood analysis.
If the doctor has suspicions about the development of dangerous complications, the following may be additionally prescribed:
- Analysis of sputum excreted by coughing.
- MRI of the chest.
- Computed tomography of the chest.
Drug treatment
We note again that in case of a prolonged cough, self-medication should not be prescribed. The treatment regimen should only be a qualified doctor. Given the general condition of the patient, the severity of the complication. We must not forget that previously a person took a considerable amount of potent drugs aimed at the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, which could also have a negative effect on the body.
The main direction of therapy here is to eliminate the symptom tormenting the patient, to completely restore the mucous membranes of his respiratory tract. In the article, we also analyze the effects of SARS, symptoms and treatment in children and adults. The latter is aimed at diluting sputum and assisting its rapid elimination from the respiratory tract. For this, mucolytic agents are prescribed. Children are shown herbal preparations.
Using such drugs can significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment with a minimum set of side effects. Fitoncids will help speed up recovery. They not only destroy pathogenic microflora, but also are able to relieve swelling of the mucous membranes.
In the case of a protracted cough after acute respiratory viral infections, drugs based on ivy or marshmallow extract, as well as agents with ambroxol and bromhexine, are effective. In order to accelerate the elimination of sputum from the respiratory tract, inhalations are performed. The most effective here are procedures using a nebulizer.
If the patient suffers from a dry cough without sputum production, he is prescribed inhalations with mineral water or saline. Moreover, with a dry cough, steam inhalation is also indicated as an effective preventive measure. When the cough is wet, inhalation with solutions containing ambroxol will be effective.
If you do not have a special inhaler at home, you can turn to a simple inhalation of steam. You bend over a container with a hot solution for inhalation, cover yourself with a towel. In this position, you inhale the vapor slowly and deeply. To make such inhalations more effective, in addition to the main component, they add a couple drops of essential oil - sage, eucalyptus or lavender.
Complications
If the cough is caused by complications after acute respiratory viral infections, then special drugs will be prescribed that are aimed at combating this consequence. For example, in bronchial asthma, methylxanthines and beta2-adrenergic agonists are prescribed. If the cause of the cough is an allergic reaction, antihistamines will be effective. It is necessary to try to avoid contact with allergens that caused this ailment. If the complication is bacteriological, viral in nature, then you can not do without taking antibiotics.
In addition to all of the above, the patient is provided with plentiful drink - in such pathological conditions it is important to maintain water balance in the body. As for the diet, it should contain the daily norm of nutrients and vitamins necessary for the body.
Assistive therapy
Folk remedies are also effective here as an auxiliary treatment. However, they should be used only with the permission of your doctor. We list the known proven recipes:
- Radish with honey. Carefully cut the top of the root crop and cut a piece of pulp. Put a few teaspoons of honey in the resulting depression. Close on top with cropped top. Allow the product to brew for 2-3 days. During this time, radish juice is mixed with honey. This natural medicine is taken in 1 tablespoon several times a day.
- Banana medicine. Grind a few ripe fruits thoroughly and combine them with sugar syrup. To prepare the latter, 10 g of sugar is mixed in one glass of water. Such a solution is taken in small portions several times a day.
- Dill infusion. Thoroughly crush the dill seeds. Pour one teaspoon of this mass with one glass of boiling water. Insist for about 30 minutes. This infusion is used instead of coffee or tea during the day.
- Decoction. Mix one tablespoon of licorice, elecampane, marshmallow root. Pour in one glass of cold water. Bring the resulting mass to a boil over low heat. Strain, cool. Take in small portions three times a day for 10 days.
It is also effective to use warming compresses, apply ointments based on natural remedies - medicinal herbs. It will be useful to eat more fresh fruits, berries and vegetables.
Prevention
Preventive measures here are quite simple:
- Control the humidity in your home.
- Frequent wet cleaning.
- The use of agents that prevent overdrying of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
- Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day.
- Refusal of perfumes and smoking.
Cough after a cold and SARS is a natural residual phenomenon. With it, the body cleans the airways after an illness. But if the symptom lasts for a long time, other disturbing manifestations appeared along with it, the visit to the doctor should in no case be postponed.