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What Causes Persistent Dry Cough?
My friend is 58 years old lady but for the last seven years she is suffering from dry cough. She took treatment for this, even she got herself tested but nothing wrong came out. Now she is fed up with her dry cough. Once she starts coughing, it takes ten minutes to subside her cough. Please suggest remedy.
Sun, 25 Oct 2020
Hi,
A cough is a reflux action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants like dust or smoke. A dry cough means it is tickly and doesn't produce any phlegm or thick mucus. Persistent dry cough may be caused by a long term respiratory tract Infection like chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, bronchiectasis, post nasal drip by rhinitis or sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), medications like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), tuberculosis,inini heart failure, pulmonary embolism etc.
Treatment depends on causes. Some investigations like CBC with ESR with Circulating eosinophil counts, HRCT of Chest, ECG, ECHO, Barium swallow test, skin prick test, RAST test, reversibility test, pulmonary function test etc to find out the underlying causes for persistent dry cough and then treat them accordingly. Some medications like antihistamines, Montelukast, Salbutamol, Doxophylline with or without antibiotics can be given as treatment protocol.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician
A cough is a reflux action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants like dust or smoke. A dry cough means it is tickly and doesn't produce any phlegm or thick mucus. Persistent dry cough may be caused by a long term respiratory tract Infection like chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, bronchiectasis, post nasal drip by rhinitis or sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), medications like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), tuberculosis,inini heart failure, pulmonary embolism etc.
Treatment depends on causes. Some investigations like CBC with ESR with Circulating eosinophil counts, HRCT of Chest, ECG, ECHO, Barium swallow test, skin prick test, RAST test, reversibility test, pulmonary function test etc to find out the underlying causes for persistent dry cough and then treat them accordingly. Some medications like antihistamines, Montelukast, Salbutamol, Doxophylline with or without antibiotics can be given as treatment protocol.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician
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