Cough
Having a cough is one of the most common reasons that people, especially children, go to the doctor. Although coughing may be a sign of serious disease in the lungs, this is usually not the case. Most coughs occur as a result of minor, temporary illnesses.
It is important to understand that coughing is a reflex (beyond our control) action that is there to protect our lungs. Coughing stops unwanted particles entering the lungs and clears away excessive secretions.
A wide variety of things will cause this reflex action to happen. In childhood, most coughs are due to virus infections of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). Children average between 3 and 8 of these infections each year and they may follow each other closely. The cough associated with such an infection can often last for 2 or 3 weeks, so it is easy to see why some children seem to have a cough for weeks on end, particularly in winter.
Chronic coughing is common in asthmatics. In its milder form this illness does not show up with the usual wheezing, but produces a persistent cough more common at night or with exercise. Other things that irritate the lungs, such as cigarette smoke and industrial fumes, may cause chronic coughing. So too may allergies such as hayfever and sinusitis.
Of course, sometimes a cough is a sign of more serious illness such as pneumonia (infection of the lung) or tumours such as lung cancer. Usually in these more serious cases other symptoms such as temperature, poor appetite, weight loss and generally feeling unwell will be a clue.
Coughs that last a few days and are obviously associated with symptoms such as a head cold and a sore throat can be ignored or treated with simple remedies. But if a cough lasts much longer than a week or so, and particularly if the person coughing seems unwell, medical advice should be sought.
Last Reviewed: 08 May 2002
