Irritable cough (dry cough) often occurs in the context of a cold, but can also have other causes. The coughing attacks are perceived as agonizing and often rob sufferers of sleep at night. We reveal the causes of dry cough and what helps against irritable cough. In doing so, we present both over-the-counter and prescription medications as well as effective home remedies.
Common cold as a possible cause of a dry cough
Cough is not an independent clinical picture, but a symptom that can occur in the context of various diseases. Irritable cough may indicate bronchial asthma, pleurisy, and heart or stomach disease, among other conditions. Likewise, certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, can trigger a dry cough. Irritable cough, however, is particularly common during the course of a cold.
Irritable cough: tormenting at night
During a cold, viruses enter the body, settle in the mucous membranes and cause inflammation there. When the mucous membranes in the throat become irritated, a neural signal to the cough center triggers the cough reflex. Only when the mucous membranes are no longer inflamed does the cough stop occurring. In the case of coughs that occur in the context of a cold, a distinction is made between dry irritant cough (nonproductive cough) and cough with sputum (productive cough):
- Dry irritating cough occurs in the first phase of the infection and is often perceived as very exhausting – especially when it disturbs sleep at night.
- Only in the second phase, when the formed mucus can be coughed up, sufferers feel relief from coughing.
Irritable cough in children
Irritable cough affects not only adults, but also children. If a cold is the cause, a treatment with home remedies is initially recommended for milder courses. As a parent, you should also make sure that your child drinks enough fluids. If the cough persists over a longer period of time or if fever and pain also occur, you should consult a doctor. He or she will be able to determine the exact cause of the irritable cough, which may also indicate an allergy or the onset of bronchial asthma. For children under two years of age, a doctor should always be consulted as a precaution.
What helps against a chesty cough?
With a chesty cough, just as with other cold symptoms, care must be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake. Instead of drinking larger amounts at once, it is best to take small sips of tea or soup again and again. Also, make sure that the humidity in the rooms is sufficiently high: ventilate regularly and, if necessary, put a bowl of water on the heater. Ventilation is important to rid the air of the pathogens in it and exchange it for fresh air. Tea as a home remedy: which tea helps when?
4 Home remedies for irritable cough
In addition, there are several home remedies for irritating cough:
- Onion syrup: cut an onion into pieces and add some honey or sugar over it. Let the onion steep for at least an hour and then take one tablespoon of the onion brew in the morning, at noon and in the evening.
- Cough tea: recommended teas include mallow, coltsfoot, fennel and marjoram. Or simply mix yourself a cough tea from different ingredients: Take, for example, ten grams of Icelandic moss and five grams each of anise seeds, hibiscus roots, coltsfoot, lungwort, ribwort and licorice.
- Inhalation: Inhalation helps to moisten the dry mucous membranes in irritable cough and thereby soothes the irritation of the cough. Suitable additions include table salt or thyme.
- Potato wrap: Put several warm, mashed jacket potatoes in a cloth and wrap it around the chest. Test the temperature of the wrap beforehand on an insensitive part of the body. Wear the wrap as long as you find the heat comfortable.
5 Facts about irritating cough – iStock.com/violet-blue
Medication for irritating cough
Medicines that stop the urge to cough (antitussives) are used to treat a dry, irritating cough. Some medications relieve symptoms by dampening the cough center, while others inhibit cough receptors in the bronchial tubes or decrease the transmission of irritation.Suitable for the treatment of irritable cough are drugs with the active ingredients:
- Codeine
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dextromethorphan
- Noscapine or
- Pentoxyverine
Medications containing codeine, dihydrocodeine, or noscapine require a prescription. Codeine and dihydrocodeine should not be used for long periods of time because they can be addictive. Because cough irritation is an important protective reflex, medications for irritable cough should be taken only when the cough is so severe that treatment with home remedies is ineffective.
Herbal medications
Various herbal products are also available for the treatment of irritable cough. Although they are somewhat less effective than the above-mentioned drugs, they also have no unpleasant side effects. To treat cold-related irritable cough, herbal products are usually sufficient. Among other things, remedies containing marshmallow root, ribwort herb or mallow leaves have proven effective. Icelandic moss pastilles are also recommended. Sucking on the pastilles moistens the mucous membranes in the throat and relieves the irritation of the cough. In addition, the mucus-forming sugars in Iceland moss ensure that a protective film covers the dry mucous membranes. This allows them to calm down and the irritating cough subsides.