Cough Types of cough

 Process of coughing

 Cough is defined as a short explosive expulsion of air. A cough is an important reflex that helps protect your airways and lungs. Anything from fumes, dust, smoke, pollen, medication, or having a lung disease like asthma or COPD, may activate this reflex.

Your throat and airways are equipped with cough receptors as well as a thin layer of mucus that coats and protects your airways. When you inhale a trigger, your cough receptors recognize the intruder, which gets stuck in the mucus lining your airways.

Those cough receptors then send a message up to your brain which sends a signal back to the muscles of your chest wall and abdomen to rapidly and forcefully take a deep breath in and out to remove the trigger. Coughing can propel air and particles out of your lungs and throat at speeds close to 50 miles per hour, and this whole process is almost instantaneous and very effective.

An occasional cough is a normal, healthy function of your body. But a persistent cough, one that doesn't go away, is not normal. Any cough that lasts for more than 8 weeks should be discussed with your doctor. And regardless of how long you've had the cough, if it concerns you it should be brought to your doctor's attention.

Types of cough

Not all coughs are the same in children. Some coughs are due to a virus. Some are due to bacteria, While others may be due to neither of the two.

• If your child's cough sounds like a dog barking. And breathing is a struggle with a hoarse, gurgling, or hissing sound. So the cough may be due to viral croup. Treatment consists of rest, humidified air, fluids, and consulting a pediatrician. Other symptoms: fever, fatigue.

•  If your child's cough sounds like there is a lot of phlegm. And you have a runny nose with congestion. So it may be due to the common viral cold. Rest and give fluids. But, if it stays for more than 2 weeks, see the pediatrician. Treatment: rest, fluids, see pediatrician  Other symptoms: phlegm, congestion, mild fever.

• If the cough occurs especially during the night or cold weather. Or every time your child engages in physical activity. So it may be a sign of asthma. Treatment: rest, see the pediatrician. Other symptoms: wheezing.

•  If your child has a hoarse cough, high fever, muscle pain, and a runny nose. Your child may be suffering from the viral flu.

See pediatrician for prescription drugs. Rest, fluids, and warm food should help. Treatment: prescription drugs, fluids, rest, hot foods, liquids. Other symptoms: general malaise.

• The child has many fits of coughing or coughing many times at one time. Or if the cough has a screaming sound, visit the pediatrician as soon as possible. Treatment: see pediatrician, prescription drugs, rest. Other symptoms: shortness of breath.

• If your child seems very sick and has a cough for less than 1 week, What sounds wet and phlegm. So, it could be pneumonia. See pediatrician. Treatment: see pediatrician, prescription drugs, rest. Other symptoms: shortness of breath, general malaise, fever.

• If your child has a noisy, wet cough, With rattling noises even while breathing, it may be bronchitis. See pediatrician. Treatment: see pediatrician, prescription drugs, rest.Other symptoms: shortness of breath, general malaise, phlegm, fever. 

• If your child is healthy but has a cough with phlegm. That often (but not always) occurs after meals or snacks. The cough may be due to reflux. Treatment may require diet changes and reflux medications. Treatment: see pediatrician, diet, prescription drugs. Other symptoms: none. The child must look totally healthy, smiling, etc.

• If your child is healthy but has a wet-sounding cough. That is associated with allergies, nasal congestion, and cold. The cough may be due to a postnasal drip due to allergies. Allergy medications may be required along with the environment. Treatment: drugs, environment. Other Symptoms: Nasal congestion, runny nose, but otherwise it should look totally healthy.