A cough is a reflex action that clears your airways of irritants and mucus such as smoke and dust. It rarely indicates any serious conditions. 

A dry cough is usually indicated by tickling and itchy throat without production of any phlegm. It is also called a non-productive cough. The most common causes of dry cough include throat irritants and allergies. Moreover, viral illnesses including colds and flu are also responsible for dry cough. 

In chesty cough or productive cough, phlegm or sputum is produced to clear your airways.  

Sometimes, doctors won’t bother about productive or non-productive coughs. They are eager to know if you are producing darker phlegm than usual. In rare cases, a persistent cough can be a sign of serious health conditions, like heart failure, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and pulmonary embolism¹. 

 

Dry and hacking cough?

No phlegm is produced in dry cough. A coarse or barking sound is produced during dry cough and it usually initiates at the back of the throat. It is an unsatisfactory cough for sufferers as it does not clear your airways. 

Infections of the nose and throat trigger inflammation and generate a hacking dry cough with a sore throat in those areas. In flu or cold, these forms of cough are usually seen. Often a cough can start dry but gradually become wet.

 For example, pneumonia is a lung disease/ infection that is often indicated by a dry cough and leads to progressive shortness of breath and can be painful. With the progress of the infection, alveoli, the lung air sacs become full of inflammatory secretions such as blood or lung tissue fluid. It makes your cough wet². 

 

Causes of dry cough

The following are the causes of dry cough. 

• Viral infections or illness including the common cold, flu (influenza) and (COVID-19) which is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
• A post-infective or a post-viral cough that happens after a viral illness. 

 

Dry cough may be due to the following medical conditions. 

• Smoking
• Asthma 
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea
• Whooping cough 
• Laryngitis, which is the inflammation of the larynx
• Hay fever or Allergic rhinitis happens due to inhalation of allergic substances including pet dander, dust, and pollen. 
• Post-nasal drip is a condition of mucus secretions drainage from the sinuses or nose down the back of the throat, it is also called upper airway cough syndrome. 
• Habit cough is common in school-aged children and only present in the daytime. 
• Inhalation of foreign body, this condition usually happens in small children and babies. For example, accidental inhalation of food or other objects. 
• Interstitial lung diseases (different types of lung diseases).
• Dry cough may be the result of medicinal side effects. The characteristic side effects of (antihypertensive medicine) ACE inhibitors is a persistent dry cough. 

The following are less common causes of dry cough. 

• Lung cancer 
• Heart failure
• Pulmonary embolism 

 

The following are the conditions/factors that aggravate dry cough. 

• Temperature alteration 
• Air pollution 
• Excessive exposure to smoke or tobacco smoke 
• Breathing dry or cold air
• Inhalation of irritants including smoking or dust³ 

 

Medical treatment of Dry cough 

A person may feel uncomfortable due to a dry cough. There are many remedies and treatments available for dry cough. The following are the commonly used and effective treatment options for dry cough. 

Decongestants

Decongestants are over-the-counter (OTC) medications used for nasal congestion and sinus congestion. Viral infections or illness leads to swelling to the lining of the nose that restricts the air passage; it would be difficult to breathe. Decongestants work by reducing blood flow to the swollen tissue, which reduces swelling and restores normal breathing. 

 

Cough suppressants and expectorants

Cough suppressants are medicines that treat your cough by blocking your cough reflex. They are also called antitussives. They are recommended for dry coughs that are painful for the throat. On the other hand, expectorants are mostly used for productive coughs to expel the phlegm. Multiple brands of cough suppressants are available at your nearby medical stores⁴. 

 

Herbs and supplements for dry cough 

There are many home remedies for dry cough. You have to find which remedy suits you best. All home remedies or herbal supplements are not fully researched or proven to be effective. However, some herbal or home remedies are not suitable for children. 

 

Honey

Honey is an effective remedy for dry cough. Research conducted in 2007 concluded that honey can be more effective than dextromethorphan (an effective cough suppressant). Due to the antibacterial properties of honey, it also alleviates irritation and coats the throat. Use of honey is not recommended in children under 1 year. 

 

Turmeric

Curcumin is a compound of turmeric, which has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has several advantages including dry cough. You can use turmeric by making warm tea. It is a very useful herb in Ayurvedic medicine for bronchitis and upper respiratory conditions. 

 

Ginger

Ginger is also used with honey to treat dry cough. You can also use ginger root in capsule form or chew to treat dry cough. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It also boosts your immunity and relieves discomfort and pain⁵. 

 

 

References

 

1. Cough. [internet]. [cited 2020 November 27]; Available from  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/lungs-and-airways/cough
2. How to Tell if Your Cough Is a Sign of The Coronavirus or Something Else. [internet]. [cited 2020 November 27]; Available from  https://www.sciencealert.com/how-to-tell-if-your-cough-is-a-sign-of-the-coronavirus-or-something-else
3. Cough: dry cough. [internet]. [cited 2020 November 27]; Available from https://www.mydr.com.au/respiratory-health/cough-dry-cough#:~:text=A%20dry%20cough%20is%20a,by%20allergies%20or%20throat%20irritants.
4. How to Treat Dry Cough Naturally at Home and Medicinally. [internet]. [cited 2020 November 27]; Available from  https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-dry-cough#home-remedies
5. 13 Home Remedies for a Dry Cough. [internet]. [cited 2020 November 27]; Available from  https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/home-remedies-for-dry-cough#other-home-remedies

 

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