Sore throat, long-term dry cough, how to treat?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Van Thai - Ear, Nose Throat Doctor - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
An itchy throat is the leading cause of cough. A long-term cough and sore throat cause discomfort, affecting health and quality of life if not treated definitively.

1. Causes of itchy throat, long-term dry cough

Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of frequent itchy throat, especially when the weather changes, environmental factors affect allergic rhinitis such as dust, pollen, cigarette smoke.. We will have accompanying symptoms such as stuffy nose, itchy eyes, tired sneezing, watery eyes and itchy throat, causing a long-term cough if not treated definitively.
● Common food allergies such as seafood, eggs, milk, wheat... These allergies can cause an itchy throat or oral cavity.
● Allergy to drugs such as penicillin and other antibiotics causes an itchy throat after taking the medicine. This condition will occur with other symptoms such as rash, red skin around the eyes, itchy ears, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, low blood pressure...
● Common bacterial and viral infections It can also cause an itchy throat. Throat itching caused by viruses and bacteria only lasts a short time, but there are cases of superinfection, so we should go to the hospital to be examined and prescribed antibiotics for definitive treatment. Besides, we can identify related symptoms such as flu infection, fever, body aches, headache, stuffy nose, persistent cough...
● Dehydration is also a cause of itchy throat, dry throat
● Chronic gastroesophageal reflux will cause throat problems including an itchy throat. An itchy throat is the only symptom of acid reflux. Accompanying symptoms are easily recognized such as difficulty swallowing, heat in the chest or throat, laryngitis, tooth enamel erosion, a strange taste in the mouth...
● The drug has side effects that cause an itchy throat.

For a long-term cough, it can be a cough caused by allergies, irritants, pharyngitis, pneumonia or bronchial asthma ... We can be examined and divided into types of cough such as phlegm cough, cough. dry cough, cough with blood... In which, dry cough is a type of cough that is difficult to determine the cause such as what is the irritant or because of the environment or food to prevent. Therefore, dry cough is a difficult condition to treat. However, most cases of dry cough are caused by respiratory irritants, but can also be external, such as heart disease, mainly asthma or heart failure. Dry cough should be treated definitively to avoid affecting long-term health and affecting life.

2. Some measures to reduce dry cough, itchy throat

Most cases of dry cough, long-term itchy throat caused by the above causes can be treated to relieve symptoms with the following effective measures:
● Take a spoonful of honey
Gargle with salt water
● Cough syrups and lozenges
● Nasal sprays
● Hot tea with lemon and honey
● Using over-the-counter allergy medications and nasal sprays can relieve an itchy throat caused by allergies.
Besides, we need to know how to prevent throat itching and dry coughs, long-term coughs by quitting smoking, drinking plenty of water, limiting stimulants like alcohol and keeping the airways clean. especially in the sensitive weather season and in the environment containing many risks of respiratory disease.

We need to pay attention to the increase and decrease of cough symptoms or the degree of cough, itchy throat so that if it is serious, we need to go to the hospital for examination and appropriate treatment advice. When we have the following symptoms, we need to go to the hospital:
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Rash
Swelling of the face
Severe sore throat
Fever
Difficulty swallowing
The doctor will treat sore throat, dry cough persists with appropriate antibiotics or antiviral drugs, control severe allergies in a timely manner.
BSCK II Nguyen Van Thai was formerly a Doctor of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the Department of Otolaryngology - Hue Central Hospital with more than 17 years of treatment experience, especially in the field of Head and Neck Surgery. Currently, he is an Otolaryngologist at the Inter-Specialist Clinic of the Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine, Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

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