In the view of many of us, cough can not be observed without a cold, and vice versa. Therefore, as independent we do not consider these concepts, which is completely wrong. Meanwhile, the causes of coughing without a cold in an adult can be very different, and a cold among them is far from the first place. This is a symptom that occurs involuntarily, and it is caused by some kind of irritant to the respiratory tract mucosa. Anything can provoke a coughing fit - a serious illness or a foreign object in the throat.
What does a cough without a cold mean?
A cough without a cold is just as dangerous as a cold without a cough. In any case, this phenomenon makes one wary, especially in a chronic form. And this process has its own explanation and causes, on which the doctor relies when prescribing treatment. A healthy person coughs no more than 20 times a day, everything else is considered a sign of a malfunction in the body.
With a common cold and constructive treatment, cough lasts a maximum of two weeks. At first it is dry, unbearable, then it becomes wet and is easier to carry. The causes of coughing without a cold in an adult are respiratory diseases or lung disease. A similar symptom occurs when gastric acids enter the esophagus. In this case, the attack occurs mainly at night, accompanied by heartburn and sour taste in the mouth.
In smokers with experience, the lungs are affected, the esophagus is irritated. It is very difficult for the body to get rid of cough in such a situation. Their main concern is a prolonged morning cough with sputum immediately after waking up. This is a classic condition, both of passive and active smokers. The way to get rid of discomfort is obvious - you need to abandon addiction.
Unproductive cough
Cause of dry cough without a cold:
- bronchospasm;
- bronchial asthma;
- allergy;
- dust exposure to the respiratory system;
- ACE inhibitors used to reduce blood pressure.
The factors that triggered the cough may be more serious, for example, lung cancer, heart failure, tuberculosis, pleurisy, mediastinal neoplasms.
In the presence of Koch's bacillus (the causative agent of tuberculosis), the cough does not pass within a month. In this case, fluorography and a thorough examination are prescribed.
Asthma and allergies
Dry cough without a cold is often the only symptom of asthma. The patient's condition worsens when inhaling pungent odors, cold air, pollen or smoke. In addition to the common cold, persistent coughing accompanies allergic rhinitis. With this disease, there is a rash, tearing, nasal congestion, sneezing, often a headache.
The most dangerous allergens:
- Food;
- plant pollen;
- animal hair;
- book dust.
Distinguishing allergies is simple enough. Attacks occur only at the moment of immediate proximity with the allergen. Getting rid of the symptoms involves consulting a doctor and taking antihistamines.
The causes of coughing without a cold in an adult can be the following: heart failure, which is accompanied by tingling in the chest, swelling of the extremities. In this case, the trip to the cardiologist should not be postponed. One of the symptoms of sinusitis or chronic rhinitis, in addition to headache and fever, is a protracted cough.
Diagnosis of causeless cough
The first doctor to visit is a therapist, then he will be referred to another specialist. When making a diagnosis, the following points are taken into account:
- when the seizures began;
- wet or dry cough;
- additional changes in well-being.
Depending on the duration of the time period, coughing occurs:
- acute - up to 2 weeks;
- protracted - up to 4 weeks;
- subacute - up to 2 months;
- chronic - more than 2 consecutive months.
Often, concomitant symptoms are ignored, for example, loss of appetite, drowsiness, weakness. Dry cough without a cold in an adult is easier to associate with lack of sleep or stress. As effective methods, hardware diagnostics (X-ray, CT, electrocardiography), laboratory blood / urine tests are used.
The state of the nervous system can also cause such a syndrome. With mental disorders, cough medications do not help, even blocking the reflex. This requires consultation with a neurologist or psychotherapist.
Cough without fever
An adult can cough constantly due to viral tracheitis. Attacks torment day and night, in the throat it constantly bruises. You can alleviate the symptom with hot milk and medicines, antibiotics, as a rule, do not help. But with such a dangerous bacterial complication as pneumonia, antibiotics are used.
Such a cough without signs of a cold can occur with whooping cough, the precursors of the onset of the disease are sore throat and weakness. Over time, the condition only gets worse, a person simply suffocates a dry cough and covers the wave mainly at night. Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital and under the supervision of a physician. In another case, serious consequences cannot be avoided.
There is no temperature, but the cough is quite long, for sure only a blood test and a smear from the nasopharynx can refute or confirm the diagnosis.
Today it is very difficult to find a person who would never cough for a day. The reason for everything is the environmental situation, the mass of various infections - living in a metropolis, you can only dream of clean air. When infectious agents get into the lungs or bronchi, the respiratory tract receptors become irritated and a cough arises that warns of mechanical obstruction and cleansing the respiratory tract of sputum, mucus and other substances.
Other causes of cough without a cold
During colds, the clinical picture is clear: the temperature rises, a runny nose, weakness and other symptoms of intoxication appear. In such a situation, the cause of dry cough is clear. Why does it occur without temperature and signs of SARS? What are the causes of adult cough without a cold?
In the absence of typical symptoms of a cold, a dry cough indicates latent inflammation or individual hypersensitivity reactions. There are unproductive chronic coughs in the list of side effects of some drugs. These drugs include:
- ACE inhibitors;
- remedies for hypertension;
- nitrofurans;
- aspirin;
- inhaled medication.
It will be necessary to revise drug therapy if the reasons for coughing without a cold in an adult lie in it . The stomach reacts differently for everyone, so the treatment is selected individually.
Such discomfort can occur after an infectious or viral inflammatory process of the respiratory system. At the same time, tickling or tickling in the throat is felt. The duration of such a cough can reach up to 3 weeks.
Throat and lung cancer
In addition to the main symptom, there is difficulty breathing, sputum with blood from the throat and nose. There is no or low temperature - 37-37.5 ° C. In lung cancer, the symptoms are typical, chest pains are also disturbing, sputum is excreted with pus or blood.
Important! Left unattended, a prolonged dry cough in pregnant women poses a direct threat to the health of the fetus. The abdominal muscles of the future mother are constantly contracting and are in good shape, which can lead to bleeding.
Accompanying symptoms
Even in the absence of signs of a cold, a cough rarely appears alone, as a rule, it is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- hoarse voice;
- shortness of breath even with a small load;
- nausea, vomiting;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- drowsiness, sweating.
Symptoms of systemic diseases accompanied by cough:
- rapid weight loss;
- violation of the stool;
- bad breath;
- periodontal disease.
When is medical attention required?
Any acute or prolonged cough without a cold in an adult requires medical supervision. With the following symptoms, contacting a specialist should be immediate:
- heat;
- blurred consciousness;
- change in speech;
- heart palpitations;
- swelling of the extremities;
- pain when swallowing and breathing.
Treatment and first aid
Pulmonologists do not recommend self-medication, especially when using folk remedies. Home medicine can alleviate some symptoms, but eliminate them, let alone cure the cause of the appearance, no. It is important to understand that all medicines for each type of cough are different. With dry, antitussive are prescribed, with wet - mucolytic, expectorant.
For a quick recovery, the patient needs to restore the regime of work and rest, quit smoking and establish a diet. In addition to traditional drugs, antiviral, antihistamines and antibiotics are prescribed.
A cough without signs of a cold in an adult is taken by surprise, often it begins at night, you can alleviate the condition by taking the following measures:
- When the source is tobacco smoke, you need to ventilate the room, drink warm tea or a glass of water.
- In case of an allergic cough, it is necessary to exclude any contact with the allergen: ventilate the room, on the contrary, close the window so that the pollen does not fly in, rinse the throat with salt solution and wash your hands with it.
- If seizures occur frequently, you should always have a mint candy with you.
- With diseases of the throat, an abundant drink of warm water, moistened, fresh air in the room will help.
Invisible enemies
Even the most healthy person can start to suffer a debilitating cough without symptoms of a cold and poison his life. We are talking about allergens that we encounter day after day in our apartment. Household dust, acting on the lungs, irritates them, so it is important to do wet cleaning at least 2 times a week. One of the most powerful irritants is paper dust. All books and folders with papers should be kept under glass or in drawers.
Pets need to be combed constantly to reduce the content of wool in the air. Combustion products are dangerous; there must be an exhaust hood in the kitchen. It is also important to be especially careful when handling household chemicals. To replace powders with liquid agents, to exclude chlorine-containing ones in general.
Indoor plants will help to clean and moisturize the air, so with regular coughing, it's time to green the apartment.
The listed measures are preventive, consultation with a specialist physician is required.