Photo: from open sources
If you have been coughing for more than 8 weeks and it is not getting better, this is definitely a reason to see a doctor.
Coughing is always unpleasant. However, if it does not go away for a long time, then this is an alarming sign. You should be aware of important signs. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the website of the medical community “Take care of yourself”.
What is a cough
It is important to understand that cough is not a disease. This is a symptom that helps us get rid of something that shouldn’t be in our body.
A person can cough up mucus, which may contain pathogens, coughed up dust, foreign objects, etc. However, it also happens that the cough drags on.
In many cases, this does not mean that you are sick with something terrible.
More often, the cough simply continues after a viral infection has already been suffered. Sometimes it may not go away for 3-8 weeks, but usually it goes away on its own and without treatment.
What should you be wary of?
If you have been coughing for more than 8 weeks and it is not getting better, this is definitely a reason to see a doctor.
It is important to be attentive to manifestations indicating that a cough may be a symptom of a dangerous disease.
Pay attention to the symptoms accompanying the cough:
- fever
- labored breathing
- wheezing
- weight loss
- extreme fatigue
- night sweats
Phthisiatrician and pulmonologist Marina Korchinskaya said that often the cause of prolonged cough is postnasal drip syndrome or reflux esophagitis. This is a situation where part of the stomach contents enters the esophagus, oropharynx or respiratory tract.
The doctor urges you not to prescribe medicine for yourself.
“Self-diagnosis in the form of multislice computed tomography will not give the patient an understanding of cough, and therefore you should consult with a specialist before receiving radiation and spending money. I often see diagnosing a cough using Google and self-prescribing tests for yourself. Don’t do that,” explains Korchinsky.
The cause of a cough can also be the psyche; such a cough is called psychogenic. It often occurs in children. Although this cough can be quite loud, it magically goes away when the child sleeps or is distracted by something. Treatment may require the participation of a psychotherapist.
Could this be a sign of tuberculosis?
A prolonged cough may be a sign of tuberculosis. But if there is tuberculosis of the larynx, trachea or bronchi, then the cough is so annoying and resistant to any cough medicine that patients quickly seek help.
However, other pulmonary forms of tuberculosis can occur without a cough at all. Therefore, cough is not a typical symptom of tuberculosis.
