Cough is a protective reflex that expels mucus, bacteria, and other foreign substances. It is the body's defense mechanism to clean the lungs and airways.
Cough can be acute or short term which usually lasts less than 3 weeks whereas chronic or persistent cough can last from 3 to 8 weeks. There can be numerous causes for cough. You may develop cough due to upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, pneumonia, asthma or other medical conditions. Moreover, cough might also be accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing sound, hoarseness of voice, or chest pain depending on what is causing it.
Acute cases of cough are usually managed by home remedies such as steam inhalation, gargling with salt water, using a humidifier or taking cough suppressants and expectorants. Drinking warm water or avoiding foods that can aggravate cough such as oily foods can also help in improving your condition.
However, in case of chronic cough, antibiotics and other medications might be prescribed depending on the cause and duration of your cough. Treatment of the underlying cause of cough also needs to be addressed in such cases.
