The difference between allergic cough and normal cough

The difference between allergic cough and normal cough

It is necessary to know the difference between allergic cough and normal cough to take appropriate action with each of them, especially during periods of seasonal change, where allergic cough is common.

Therefore, in this article, we will be keen to define each of them, explaining the causes and methods of treatment, so that you can know at first glance the difference between allergic cough and normal cough, especially if it happens to one of your children at an early stage of his life.

The difference between allergic cough and normal cough in terms of description

When searching for the difference between allergic cough and normal cough, we will not find many apparent differences. This is a cough, and that is a cough. But there are many subtle differences that will become clear when we talk about each one of them separately.

What is an allergic cough?

An allergic cough is a type of dry cough that occurs suddenly as a result of exposure to a specific external stimulus. It occurs without warning, and it may also go away without warning, depending on the duration of exposure to the stimulus.

An allergic cough occurs as a result of an exaggerated reaction by the body’s immune system as a result of exposure to an allergen and its being unsuitable for the body. Allergy symptoms are not limited to coughing, but also include itching, irritation, and redness. While these symptoms appear on the outer surface of the skin and some thin membranes in the nose, the respiratory system’s share of allergy is a sudden dry cough, which may cause temporary congestion in the throat.

What is a normal cough?

It is a type of cough that is usually accompanied by throat secretions (mucus – phlegm) or dry, depending on the medical condition. A normal cough occurs as a symptom of a disease.

The list of causes of a normal cough expands to include:

• Colds and flu
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Asthma
• Bacterial or viral infections in the respiratory system
• Gastro-esophageal reflux
• Smoking

Coughing may occur and be accompanied by a severe runny nose (in cases of colds and flu), congestion in the throat, wheezing in the chest (in cases of asthma or in young children), and in rare cases, phlegm mixed with blood comes out.

The difference between allergic cough and normal cough in terms of causes

Cough occurs in each case for different reasons than the other. Allergic cough occurs for specific reasons related to seasonal changes or special living habits (raising pets with thick hair and fur). While normal cough occurs in connection with many diseases, as will be explained in the following lines.

What are the causes of allergic cough?

Allergic cough occurs as a result of the respiratory system being exposed to one of the following allergens:

• Pollen
• House dust
• Food mold
• Animal hair
• Some strong-smelling perfumes
• Some strong chemical odors such as the smell of detergents, for example
• Strong-smelling fumes such as cigarettes and burning rubber

What are the causes of normal cough?

A normal cough occurs as a symptom of the aforementioned diseases. When the upper respiratory tract is irritated, and there is difficulty breathing as a result of one of the diseases (asthma – colds – influenza – bronchitis – upper respiratory tract infection – etc.), coughing attacks begin to appear in the person suffering from this disease.

In this case, mucus accumulates in the upper respiratory tract and the patient suffers from a severe cough, as his body wants to get rid of these particles that have stuck to the mucus in his throat.

A normal cough occurs in conjunction with these diseases, and disappears when they disappear. Normally, a person needs to cough daily to expel any inappropriate particles from his body, which cause him to have difficulty in his throat, such as phlegm that forms in the respiratory system as a result of inhaling dust and dirt.

The usual cough lasts for several days, accompanying the disease of which it is one of the symptoms, and then disappears when it disappears. It may be accompanied by a high temperature or physical fatigue. It depends on the disease the patient is suffering from at that time.

The difference between allergic cough and normal cough in terms of treatment

Due to the difference in symptoms and causes, the method of treatment also differs.

How is allergic cough treated?

In the case of allergic cough, the patient is given an antihistamine, a cough suppressant and accompanying symptoms, if these symptoms increase above normal levels. It is natural for the symptoms to disappear on their own when the cause disappears.

But if you can’t get rid of the allergen, it may be best to take an antihistamine (as directed by your doctor). Your doctor may recommend antihistamines to relieve the allergic reaction. There are also nasal sprays or inhalers that also help relieve the symptoms of allergic cough. In any case, it is not best to take any antihistamines for a long period of time.

Also, all medications should be taken under the supervision of a doctor. As for preventive measures, it is preferable to stay away from allergens as much as possible by taking the following measures:

• Do not leave the house when the seasons change
• Stay away from places where there is a lot of dust
• Wear a mask that protects against dust, gases and pollen if you need to leave the house
• If you have a pet with a lot of hair and fur, it is preferable to put it up for adoption or at least avoid touching it or approaching it inside the house
• When the seasons change, it is preferable to reduce the number of times you leave the house and be exposed to air laden with allergens (such as pollen) as much as possible
• It is preferable to close the house to ensure that dust does not infiltrate it

How is a normal cough treated?

Despite the many procedures used to treat allergic cough, treating a normal cough is often very simple. It is enough to take a cough suppressant or expectorant such as Proby syrup (for cough and expectorant with honey – 125 ml syrup) until the cough subsides and the condition improves. For those who prefer natural drinks, you can drink warm drinks, such as mint, ginger with honey and lemon rings, honey with lemon, turmeric, and other natural cough-soothing drinks.

But what should be focused on in treating a normal cough is treating the disease itself. If you can treat the disease, the symptoms that cause the cough will decrease. For example, if a cold or flu attack is treated, we will find that the symptoms of the cough begin to gradually decrease until it ends. The same applies to treating the rest of the diseases that cause a normal cough, whether it is dry or accompanied by phlegm.

Conclusion:

To know the difference between allergic cough and normal cough, we should know that allergic cough occurs as a result of exposure to an external allergen, while normal cough occurs as a symptom of another disease. We learned about the symptoms and causes of each separately. Then, in this article, we talked about the appropriate treatment method. While it is preferable to take antihistamines with allergic cough, the matter is different with normal cough, as it can be calmed with Proby syrup (for cough and expectorant with honey – 125 ml syrup).

However, prevention is always better than cure. If exposure to allergens is avoided in the case of allergic cough, and health care is taken in the case of normal cough, coughing attacks will decrease significantly.

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Sources:

1. Allergic Cough – Altibbi
2. The difference between allergic and normal cough – Webteb
3. The most important information about allergic cough – Webteb
4. How can we differentiate between a normal cough and one resulting from chest allergy? – Al-Consolto
5. What is the difference between an allergic and normal cough – Al-Shifa International