Causes of Cough

Do you have a cough that won’t go away? Well, you are not alone. Cough is the main reason why most people see their physicians. There are three stages of cough – acute, sub-acute and chronic. When a cough lasts less than 3 weeks, it is called “acute cough”. A cough that lasts anywhere between 3 and 8 weeks is called “sub-acute cough” and if a cough persists for more than 8 weeks it is termed a chronic cough. Chronic cough is not a disease in itself but is rather a manifestation of other illnesses present in the individual. In at least 90% of the cases the cause of a cough can be diagnosed. Let us look at some of the most common causes of cough.

1. Common Cold

There are many different viruses that can give us the common cold, the most common being a class of viruses called rhinoviruses. To guard against the cold, our immune system increases mucous secretion, which gives you a runny nose and the excess fluid and mucous in turn causes coughing.

2. Smoking

Smoking is one of the most common causes of a cough, although not all smokers cough. Coughing shows that there is a foreign matter present in the respiratory tract which should not be there, and in case of a smoker, it is the harmful chemicals present in cigarettes. Coughing is a vital part of our body’s defence mechanism, but in spite of that, some of the toxins found in cigarettes remain in the lungs, which is why long term smokers develop what is called the “smoker’s cough”.

3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

The backflow of stomach juices, including acids and undigested foods into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach) is called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and can make one cough, besides other symptoms. Unexplained cough in the mornings, night-time cough or cough which gets aggravated after eating a heavy meal may be attributed to GERD.

4. Sinusitis/Rhinitis

By far, chronic cough’s most widespread cause is post nasal drainage which comes from inflammation in the nasal passage (rhinitis) and/or sinusitis. Nasal swelling in the sinus membranes sometimes might create thick mucus which flows back into your throat and causes coughing. The prime rhinitis/sinusitis causes are bacterial infection, allergies and nose blockages. Sinusitis is more common than was previously thought in individuals with chronic cough and in most cases; post nasal drainage is the only symptom.

5. Whooping Cough or Pertussis

Whooping Cough or Pertussis is an upper respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis bacteria. It is a serious disease that can cause permanent disability in infants and can even be fatal. Initial symptoms are the same as a common cold – runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, low-grade fever. Before a vaccine was available, whooping cough was a major killer amongst infants. Now with the vaccine, the number of deaths has declined, although in recent years the number of cases has shot up again.