Coughing is a protective reflex that helps clear the respiratory passages, classified by duration, character, and productivity. Its causes range from respiratory infections to environmental factors and can indicate underlying health issues, necessitating various diagnostic tests. Treatment options include hydration, avoiding irritants, using medications, and addressing any underlying conditions.

1. COUGH
Mr. Aby Thankachan,M.Sc N, PGDSH
Senior Nursing Tutor
KMCH CoN, Cbe

2. A cough is a sudden, and often
repetitively occurring, protective
reflex which helps to clear the
large breathing passages from
fluids, irritants, foreign particles
and microbes.

3. Classification
A cough can be classified by its duration, character, quality, and
timing.
The duration can be either acute (of sudden onset) if it is present
less than three weeks, subacute if it is present between three or
eight weeks, and chronic when lasting longer than eight weeks.
A cough can be non-productive (dry) or productive (when
phlegm is produced that may be coughed up as sputum). It may
occur only at night (then called nocturnal cough), during both night
and day, or just during the day.

4. The cough reflex consists of three phases: an
inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed
glottis, and a violent release of air from the lungs
following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied
by a distinctive sound.

5. Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence
of a disease.
Many viruses and bacteria benefit, from an
evolutionary perspective, by causing the host to cough,
which helps to spread the disease to new hosts.
Most of the time, irregular coughing is caused by a
respiratory tract infection but can also be triggered by
choking, smoking, air pollution, asthma,
gastroesophageal reflux disease, post-nasal drip,
chronic bronchitis, lung tumors, heart failure and
medications such as ACE inhibitors.

6. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
• A cough is a protective reflex in healthy individuals which is
influenced by psychological factors.
• The cough reflex is initiated by stimulation of two different
classes of afferent nerves, namely the myelinated rapidly
adapting receptors, and nonmyelinated C-fibers with endings in
the lungs.
• However it is not certain that the stimulation of nonmyelinated C-
fibers leads to cough with a reflex as it's meant in physiology
(with its own five components): this stimulation may cause mast
cells degranulation (releases antimicrobial cytotoxic) and edema
which may work as a stimulus for rapidly adapting receptors.

7. Signs and symptoms that point to
an infection include fever, chills, body aches,
sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache,
sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats,
and postnasal drip. Sputum, or phlegm,
sometimes indicates an infection is present,
but it is also seen in noninfectious causes.

8. DIAGNOSIS
• a chest X-ray to assess whether lungs
are clear
• blood and skin tests if they suspect an
allergic response
• phlegm or mucus analysis for signs of
bacteria or tuberculosis
• an echocardiogram to ensure that heart
is functioning correctly and isn’t causing
the cough.
• CT scan determines the cause of a
cough.
• Esophageal pH monitoring which looks
for evidence of GERD.

9. TREATMENT
 Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
 Elevate head with extra pillows when
sleeping.
 Use cough drops to soothe throat.
 Gargle with warm salt water regularly to
remove mucus and soothe throat.
 Avoid irritants, including smoke and dust.
 Add honey or ginger to hot tea to relieve
cough and clear airway.
 Use decongestant sprays to unblock nose
and ease breathing.
 Quit Smoking

10. TREATMENT
 over-the-counter or prescription cough
remedies.
 Antibiotics
 Narcotics

11. Treating the underlying cause
 asthma can be
treated with inhaled steroids to reduce
inflammation in airways
 allergies can be treated by avoiding things
make allergic to and
taking antihistamines to dampen down
allergic reactions
 bacterial infections can be treated
with antibiotics
 GERD can be treated with antacids to
neutralise stomach acid
 COPD can be treated with bronchodilators
to widen your airways

12. Expectorants : it clears
all the gunk from
airways.
Eg: guaifenesin Antihistamine, a
decongestant, and a pain
reliever. Suppressant +
Expectorant
= Pain reliever