Wet cough: treatment and prevention

Cough can occur during many diseases, it is a protective reaction of the body, removes the mucous secretion from the respiratory tract, formed during the inflammatory process. A wet cough, which is called still productive, promotes expectoration of phlegm and mucus from the throat, bronchus, or lungs. The reasons for its occurrence are many. Among them are various viral and infectious diseases. A wet cough can also indicate the presence of chronic lung diseases. In addition, it occurs when gastric acid enters the esophagus. In smokers, a wet cough indicates lung damage or irritation of the throat or esophagus. Sometimes the causes of the occurrence can be domestic, associated with the dustiness of the environment.

Since sputum is an indispensable component of wet cough, it is her laboratory studies that play a major role in the diagnosis. Mucous, colorless or with blood veins, sputum is typical for pneumonia, bronchial asthma, acute respiratory diseases, including acute bronchitis. Purulent indicates the development of lung abscess, and tuberculosis is characterized by mucopurulent sputum. Together with it, pathogenic microbes are excreted from the body. Very often the disease begins with a dry cough, then goes to the wet one. And this is considered a good sign, as the departure of phlegm always brings a sense of relief.

Cough, both dry and wet, must necessarily be treated. For this, there are various medications, but you can use them only on the advice of a doctor and after the diagnosis.

A wet cough in a child is usually manifested when respiratory problems occur. The most common cause of it is acute bronchitis or ARI. For treatment, expectorants and mucolytic drugs are prescribed whose action is aimed at diluting the sputum, to help facilitate its removal during coughing attacks. Thus it is necessary to teach the child to expectorate mucus, so that there is no stagnation in the respiratory tract. In infants, sputum massage and frequent changes in the position of the baby contribute to the spitting of the sputum. When a wet cough in a child, in no case can not use antitussives. After all, its manifestation is already
Itself indicates a positive dynamics of the disease. In turn, anti-cough drugs suppress the cough reflex and prolong the course of the disease.

Since a damp cough in children occurs quite often, many parents are used to self-medicate. At the same time, buying medicines in the pharmacy yourself, do not think about possible negative consequences. After all, the choice of drugs in pediatrics is based on the mandatory establishment of causes and takes into account all the features of the formation of cough reflex in children. Some doctors prescribe treatment only in special cases, when a wet cough is debilitating and intense, often accompanied by vomiting.

Wet cough in children is usually treated with drugs that contain herbal extracts that have the properties of thinning phlegm. The preparations with alteum, anise, syphilis, licorice, etc. are of great help. You can buy expectorants in any pharmacy in the form of syrups, doses, tablets and drops. The mechanism of their action is based on reducing the viscosity and increasing the volume of bronchial secretions and removing it from the respiratory tract. It should be remembered that they must be taken on the day at least 3-4 times, which is not always pleasant to the child. It is for such cases that sweet syrups are produced by the pharmaceutical industry, which are popular with most children.

With regard to general recommendations for the treatment of cough, the main ones are compliance with the temperature regime and abundant drinking.