How long coughing

Find your local pharmacy. If your GP is unsure what's causing your cough, they may refer you to a hospital specialist for an assessment. They may also request some tests, such as a chest X-ray , allergy tests, breathing tests, and an analysis of a sample of your phlegm to check for infection. In rare cases, a short-term cough may be the first sign of a health condition that causes a persistent cough. In most cases, a doctor won't worry whether a cough is dry or chesty, but will need to know if you are producing much more or darker phlegm than usual.

Rarely, a persistent cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as lung cancer , heart failure , a pulmonary embolism blood clot on the lung or tuberculosis. Coughs in children often have similar causes to those mentioned above. For example, respiratory tract infections, asthma and GORD can all affect children. Occasionally, a persistent cough in a child can be a sign of a serious long-term condition, such as cystic fibrosis. Read more about what to do if your child has cold or flu symptoms.

Treatment isn't always necessary for short-term coughs because it's likely to be a viral infection that will get better on its own within a few weeks. Although some people find them helpful, medicines that claim to suppress your cough or stop you bringing up phlegm are not usually recommended.

This is because there's little evidence to suggest they're any better than simple home remedies, and they're not suitable for everyone. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn't be given to children under the age of six. Children aged 6 to 12 should only use them on the advice of a pharmacist or doctor. A homemade remedy containing honey and lemon is likely to be just as useful and safer to take. Honey shouldn't be given to babies under the age of one because of the risk of infant botulism.

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An expectorant is something that helps loosen mucus so you can cough it up. Learn about natural ways to treat your cough. A dry cough could be a sign of something serious, such as chronic lung disease. Here are a few reasons you should get that persistent cough checked by…. A cough can help keep your throat clear from irritants, but sustained coughing can be symptomatic of a medical condition.

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Learn more and when to speak with a…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Breast Cancer. How long does a cough usually last for common illnesses?

Common cold. What can cause a persistent cough? Can a lingering cough cause any complications? How to treat a lingering cough. The bottom line. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Symptoms include a cough and wheezing.

Smoking is a major…. COVID is a highly contagious infectious disease resulting from a recently identified coronavirus. Learn to curb its spread and more here. How long coughs last Persistent cough causes Complications Treatment Contacting a doctor Summary Coughs can be a symptom of many different health conditions.

How long does a cough usually last? Causes of a persistent cough. Potential complications of a persistent cough. How to treat a lingering cough. When to contact a doctor.

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