Why can't I get better with my cough

Coughing is a common symptom. Because it is relatively common, many patients will go to the pharmacy to buy some cough medicine after they develop cough symptoms. However, there are also many people whose cough symptoms still do not improve after taking medicine. In fact, if you want to completely cure the symptoms of a cough, you must first find the cause of the cough, and then you can completely cure the cough. So, what are the causes of cough symptoms?

1. Inhalation of foreign matter into the trachea

This condition often occurs in children, and the onset is generally acute, with no symptoms other than coughing. It can only be detected through chest X-ray, chest CT or even bronchoscopy.

2. Cough variant asthma

This is also a common cause of long-term cough in children, which is essentially airway allergy. It is often triggered by inhaling irritating odors, cold air, contact with allergens, exercise or upper respiratory tract infection. Some patients have no triggers. This type of cough is almost ineffective with cough suppressants, expectorants and antibiotics, but can be relieved by glucocorticoids, antiallergic drugs, β2 receptor agonists and theophylline.

3. Postnasal drip syndrome

Nasal secretions flow back into the nasopharynx and hypopharynx through the posterior nasal cavity, thereby stimulating inflammation and causing recurrent coughing. Most patients have a history of rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal polyps or chronic pharyngitis, accompanied by postnasal discharge, oral mucus adhesion, itchy throat, foreign body sensation, and frequent throat clearing.

4. Gastroesophageal reflux

Coughing is caused by gastric contents such as gastric acid entering the esophagus, stimulating the esophagus and causing vagus nerve reflex, or direct inhalation of gastric contents into the trachea. Patients often have symptoms such as burning sensation behind the sternum, acid reflux, belching, chest tightness, etc. The cough is often aggravated by a full meal, consumption of high-fat foods, coffee, eating before going to bed, etc.

5. Bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.

The main symptoms may also include fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, dry and wet rales in the lungs, etc. A chest X-ray is required to confirm the diagnosis.

6. Infection with special pathogens such as mycoplasma and tuberculosis

Chest X-ray, CT and related examinations for pathogens are required.

7. Lung cancer

The tumor may also irritate the trachea and cause a dry cough, sometimes accompanied by coughing up blood. Middle-aged and elderly people should be wary of such diseases. The diagnosis is also confirmed by lung imaging examinations.

8. Antihypertensive drugs

Patients taking hypertension medications should note that there is a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (the name of this type of drug is generally "XX Pril"), which may cause side effects of dry cough in some people, and the symptoms will disappear after stopping the medication.