A cough is a natural reflex that is your body’s way of removing irritants from your upper (throat) and lower (lungs) airways.
A cough helps your body heal and protect itself.
It is also a common symptom of pulmonary diseases.
According to duration, mucus production, sound and time, cough is classified:
| TYPES OF COUGH | ||
| Related to Duration of Cough: | ACUTE COUGH | Begins suddenly and lasts for two to three weeks. |
| SUBACUTE COUGH | Stays around after an infection and lasts three to eight weeks. | |
| CHRONIC COUGH | Lasts longer than eight weeks. Long-lasting coughs may also be called persistent coughs. | |
| Related to Mucus in Cough | PRODUCTIVE COUGH (WET COUGH) | Cough that brings up mucus or phlegm to clear secretions from airways. |
| NON-PRODUCTIVE COUGH (DRY COUGH) | Doesn’t bring up mucus. Hacking cough with no value and irritate respiratory mucosa. | |
| Related to distinct sounds of Cough | WHOOPING | Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an infection that causescough that sounds like whoop. |
| BARKING | A cough that sounds like barking can be a sign of croup. | |
| WHEEZING | Blocked airways can be associated with infection like cold or chronic conditions. | |
| Related to when you Cough | DAYTIME COUGH | Due to asthma, post nasal drip or GERD. |
| EARLY MORNING | Commonly in smokers which leads to chronic bronchitis. | |
| NOCTURNAL COUGH | Asthma or congestive heart failure patients. | |
| COUGH WITH VOMITING | This often happens with children. | |