COUGH (Health Tips)

 Noisy expulsion of air from lungs, at once is known as cough.

Causes

Acute (3 weeks)

• Upper respiratory viral or bacterial infection such as common cold and acute bronchitis.
• Other causes acute asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary adema.

 Chronic

• Chronic bronchitis (smoker’s cough)
• Postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Chronic bronchial asthma
• Tuberculosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Bronchogenic carcinoma
• ACE inhibitors

 Treatment

Eliminate irritant exposure such as tobacco smoke, occupational agents and discontinue ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers.

Treatment of the cause

·         Common cold: antihistamine and decongestant combination.

·         Asthma: bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

·         Postnasal drip: intranasal steroid spray such as Nasacort AQ.

Symptomatic treatment

Dry cough

Syp: Actified DM

Syp: Pholcodine

Syp: Davenol

Syp: Tixylix

Syp: Sancos

Syp: Benatuss

Syp: Hydryllin DM

Productive cough: (Expectorants)

Syp: Hydryllin

Syp: Benadryl

Syp: Reltus

Syp: Histamol-D  

 Examination of sputum

 Quantity

• Scanty: Bronchitis, early stage of pneumonia, asthma.
• Moderate amount: Chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis.
• Large amount: Bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and lung abscess.

 Appearance

• Watery: Pulmonary congestion, pulmonary edema.
• Mucoid: Acute & chronic bronchitis, asthma.
• Mucopurulent: All infections of lungs & bronchi.
• Purulent: Bronchiectasis, lung abscess, pulmonary tuberculosis.

 Color

• Blockish: due to inhalation of carbon.
• Rusty (khaki): due to altered blood mixed with sputum in lobar pneumonia.
• Reddish: indicates hemoptysis.
• Frothy pink: in pulmonary edema.
• Sticky brown to red: in Klebsiella infection.

 COUGH  (Health Tips)

 http://doctor-tips-for-health.blogspot.com/2011/04/medical-diagnosis-and-management-doctor.html