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Coughing and What To Do
Everybody coughs, but it can sometimes happen at the most inopportune times. You’ll feel that tickle, and the next thing you know, you can’t stop coughing. Coughing helps clear your airways. Some of the most common causes of uncontrollable coughing include a cold, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and COVID-19.1
You can typically reduce uncontrollable coughing at home. Drinking plenty of fluid, inhaling steam, and sucking on cough drops can help alleviate a coughing fit. See a healthcare provider if your cough lasts longer than 10–14 days.1 Read on to learn why you can’t stop coughing, how to stop it, and more.
Common Causes of a Acute Cough
An acute cough appears suddenly and usually goes away after three weeks.1 You may develop an acute cough from an infection, such as a cold, COVID, the flu, or sinusitis.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies) is a reaction to allergens. Common allergens include dust, pet dander, and pollen. Your immune system overreacts to these harmless substances and releases chemicals called histamines. This reaction causes symptoms like coughing and sneezing. You may have a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and watery eyes.2
A healthcare provider may administer an allergy skin test to figure out what’s causing your symptoms. Avoiding allergens is one of the most effective ways to prevent allergy-related coughing. You might also take antihistamines. These oral medications block the effects of histamines and reduce symptoms.
COVID
COVID is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Common symptoms include a cough, fever, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Some people develop asymptomatic COVID, meaning they do not have symptoms.
The only way to confirm COVID is to get tested. These tests usually involve swabbing the back or front of the nose or the throat. Mild COVID infections typically go away on their own. A healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral medications if you develop moderate to severe illness.
Flu
Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Symptoms typically include a cough, body aches, fever, and runny or stuffy nose. Children are more likely to develop diarrhea and vomiting than adults.4
A healthcare provider can administer tests to diagnose the flu. Many people recover at home by drinking plenty of fluids and getting rest. You may require antiviral medications if you are at risk for moderate to severe illness.
Pneumonia
A cough may sometimes signal a more severe illness. Pneumonia can develop when a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection spreads to your lungs. The infection causes the air sacs to fill with pus, making breathing hard. Your cough may produce mucus that’s green or yellow or contains blood.
A healthcare provider may diagnose pneumonia by listening to your lungs with a stethoscope or taking a chest X-ray. Treatment depends on the cause. Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia, while antivirals can help with viral pneumonia.6
Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
An upper respiratory infection (URI) affects the upper airways. Some of the most common URIs include colds and sinusitis.7 One of several viruses may cause a cold, which is very contagious. You may experience a mild hacking cough with a cold.
Bacteria, viruses, and fungi may cause sinusitis. This is inflammation of the sinuses (air-filled spaces behind your cheeks, eyes, forehead, and nose). A cough that’s worse at night is a sign of sinusitis.9
Cold symptoms, including a cough, typically go away on their own. You may use an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant to ease your symptoms.8 You can also treat sinusitis at home. Applying a warm compress to your face and drinking plenty of fluid helps relieve congestion.
Whooping Cough
You can get whooping cough (pertussis), even if you have been vaccinated. The vaccine’s efficacy wanes over time. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by bacteria. You are most contagious two weeks after your cough starts.
Antibiotics may shorten the time you are contagious and keep you from spreading the bacteria to others. Infection can lead to severe illness and may be fatal, especially in infants and young children.11
MedlinePlus. Whooping cough.