What is a dry cough

Dry cough is a type of cough, which is often caused by lung disease. The cause is very complicated, and the disease is stubborn and difficult to treat. A considerable number of patients with dry cough have coughs caused by allergies, while some have dry coughs caused by allergic bronchitis or variant asthma. Almost all of them are chronic coughs. Here is a brief introduction to dry cough.

If the cough is paroxysmal and dry, antibiotics are ineffective, accompanied by itchy throat, no fever, fear of cold air and smoke, and worsens at night, and if there is no abnormality in CT or X-ray examinations, then it is most likely an allergic cough, also called cough variant asthma or allergic bronchitis. If the dry cough is accompanied by symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as rubbing the nose, rubbing the eyes, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion, it may be an allergic cough caused by allergic rhinitis, also called allergic rhinitis - bronchitis.

Dryness invades the lungs and causes the lungs to fail to descend. This type of cough is common in the early stages of post-infection cough and occurs mostly in autumn every year. The lungs are a delicate organ that likes moisture and hates dryness, likes clearness and cannot tolerate cold or heat. Autumn is the dry season, and the dry evil invades the lung system, affecting the lung's function of dispersing and descending, and burning the lung fluid, thus causing this syndrome. The clinical manifestations are dry cough without sputum or little and sticky sputum, accompanied by dry throat, itchy throat, dry nose, thirst, red tongue with little fluid, thin white or thin yellow tongue coating, and floating and rapid pulse.

The treatment is suitable for dispelling exterior pathogens, clearing the lungs, moistening dryness and relieving cough. The prescription is Sangxing Decoction with modifications, and the ingredients include: mulberry leaves, mulberry bark, apricot kernel, Adenophora australis, roasted loquat leaves, Fritillaria thunbergii, Gardenia jasminoides, light black beans, mint, and reed roots. If the patient has prominent symptoms such as nasal congestion, aversion to wind, and itchy throat, you can add perilla leaves, cicada shells, white silkworm pupa, etc. to dispel wind, open the lungs and relieve cough.

Patients with dry coughs should pay active attention to improving their living environment. If the cough is caused by allergies, they should actively avoid contact with allergens. Be sure to open windows for ventilation in the living environment, pay attention to keeping warm in winter, pay attention to avoiding the heat in summer, try not to eat irritating foods, do not smoke, drink less, and eat more vegetables, fruits and melons.