Cough, Cure and side effects
What is cough?
Coughing is a reflex that keeps your throat and airways clear. Although it can be annoying, coughing
helps your body heal or protect itself. Coughs can be either acute or chronic. Acute coughs begin
suddenly and usually last no more than 2 to 3 weeks. Acute coughs are the kind you most often get with
a cold or flu. Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks. Causes of chronic cough include
Asthma
Allergies
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Smoking
Throat disorders, such as croup in young children
Some medicines
Tuberculosis
Water can help ease your cough - whether you drink it or add it to the air with a steamy shower or
vaporizer. If you have a cold or the flu, antihistamines may work better than non-prescription cough
medicines. Children under four should not have cough medicine. For children over four, use caution and
read labels carefully.
Different Medicines and their side effects
 Dry cough
 Suppressants
1. Dhasedyl( respiratory depression , sedation, dizziness, blurred vision, dry
mouth; GI upset, constipation, urinary retention)
 Contra indication: HTN( hypertension), asthma, MAOI(Monoamine
oxidase inhibitor) therapy
 Special precaution:
1. Hepatic or renal impairment
2. Cardiovascular disease
3. Hypertension
4. Fever
5. Hypothyroidism
6. Recent Gastrointestinal or urinary tract surgery
7. Narrow- angle glaucoma
8. May impair ability to drive or operate machinery
9. Not recommended for infants
 Wet cough
 Expectorants
1. Phenexpect( Drowsiness and confusion; GI disturbances)
 Contra indication: Bronchial asthma; increased intra cranial
pressure; narrow angle glaucoma; respiratory depression; prostate
hypertrophy; patients on MAOIs
1. Special precaution Liver disease
2. Patients with decreased respiratory reserve or those on CNS
depressants
3. Avoid alcohol, driving and operating machinery
SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSIS
1. Has your cough
begun recently?
Go to Question 12.**
2. Are you very short
of breath, and are you
coughing up pink,
frothy mucus?
Your symptoms may be from
a serious condition called
PULMONARY EDEMA (fluid in
the lungs).
SELF-CARE
EMERGENCY
GO TO THE NEAREST
EMERGENCY ROOM
RIGHT AWAY.
3. Does your cough
produce clear or pale
yellow mucus?
You may have a viral illness
such as a COLD or the FLU.
Get plenty of rest, and
drink lots of fluids. Try
over-the-counter
medicines to treat
your symptoms.
4. Does your cough
produce yellow, tan or
green mucus?
You may have an infection of
the airways such as CHRONIC
BRONCHITIS. If you have a
fever with shaking chills and
are very ill, you may have a
more serious infection such
as PNEUMONIA.
See your doctor. He or
she can prescribe
medicine to relieve
your symptoms. Get
plenty of rest, and
drink lots of fluids. If
you smoke, stop
smoking.
5. Does the cough
come with shortness
of breath and
These symptoms may be a
sign of ASTHMA, a
constriction of the airways.
Asthma can be
dangerous and should
be diagnosed and
treated by your
wheezing?
doctor.
6. Do you have
swelling in your legs
and/or shortness of
breath when you are
active or after you
have been lying
down?
Go to Question 10.*
7. Do you have heart
problems?
Persistent coughing can be
caused by CONGESTIVE
HEART FAILURE, especially
when there is a buildup of
fluid in the lungs.
8. Have you recently
started coughing up
blood or bloody
sputum?
Go to Question 12.
9. Have you recently
started having sharp
chest pain, rapid
heartbeat, swelling of
the legs and sudden
shortness of breath?
Bloody mucus with these
symptoms may mean that a
blood clot has moved from
your leg to your lungs. This is
called PULMONARY
EMBOLISM.
See your doctor.
EMERGENCY
SEE YOUR DOCTOR
RIGHT AWAY.
*10. Do you have a
fever, chills and night
sweats along with
chest pain when you
cough or take a deep
breath?
These symptoms may be
caused by TUBERCULOSIS or
another type of infection.
See your doctor.
11. Have you
unintentionally lost
weight?
This may be a sign of a
serious illness, such as LUNG
CANCER. Other signs of lung
cancer may include a cough
that produces bloody
sputum, shortness of breath
and wheezing.
See your doctor right
away.
IRRITATION OF THE AIRWAYS
will cause coughing to
attempt to clear the object or
irritation out of the airway.
If the coughing is
severe or if you don't
believe the irritant has
been cleared from
your airway, see your
doctor or go to the
emergency room right
away.
**12. Did you inhale
dust, particles or an
object?
References
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cough.html
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/516.html
MIMS 104th edition 2006