If for some reason you have an allergic cough, treatment with conventional antitussive drugs is absolutely useless. They are not even able to stop a coughing attack, since they have a completely different mechanism of action. To understand what needs to be done in such cases can only be realized by realizing how an ordinary cough differs from an allergic one. First of all, it is necessary to treat allergies and prevent its reappearance.
Insidious allergens
A variety of reasons can cause allergic cough in adults. A list of all possible allergens would take several pages, so here we list only those that are most common:
household chemicals - from washing powder to toilet duck;- pets - their smell, wool, toilet fillers;
- bedding - feather pillows, feather beds, woolen blankets;
- cosmetics - from decorative to hair styling products;
- clothing - synthetic fabrics, aggressive chemical dyes;
- house dust - small mites can also be in it;
- harmful chemical compounds - when working in production or with paints and varnishes;
- tobacco smoke - especially old smoke that collects in unventilated rooms.
household chemicals - from washing powder to toilet duck;In principle, everything is very individual. A sudden attack of an allergic cough can cause the odor of the inappropriate perfume, rotten leaves, grass clippings, or essential oil. Often it is also accompanied by profuse discharge of liquid mucus from the nose and tearing.
Allergy symptoms
Often, it is not immediately possible to recognize an allergic cough in adults - it skillfully disguises itself as a common cold. Therefore, they begin to treat him with conventional antitussives, and only when they do not help, there is a suspicion of an allergy. Although, in fact, such a cough has residual clear symptoms:
It is always harsh and dry - without secretion or coughing up phlegm.- It occurs suddenly and after a while subsides even without the use of drugs.
- It is not possible to get rid of such a cough for a long time - it periodically resumes.
- Especially often, an allergic cough torments patients at night, arising for no apparent reason.
- Taking antihistamines can stop a coughing fit almost instantly.
It is always harsh and dry - without secretion or coughing up phlegm.The presence of several of the above symptoms at once clearly indicates the allergic nature of cough. This means that you do not need to treat your throat, but to fight allergies. And for this, first of all, you will have to identify and eliminate the allergen. Otherwise, curing the cough simply will not work - it will come back again and again.
It is often difficult to find an allergen at home. Moreover, he may not be alone.
Therefore, if a dry allergic cough has been tormenting you for more than a day, then it is better to go for help to a professional - an allergist. It has a number of tests that help identify substances that cause allergic reactions and provoke coughs. The doctor will tell you the most effective remedy that will help you quickly stop the attack.
How to quickly cure
If you are convinced that the cough is of an allergic nature, then the first thing to do is to always have good antihistamines on hand that can quickly stop a coughing attack and relieve swelling from the nasal mucosa and larynx. When the swelling is too strong, it can completely block the air supply, and then there is a real threat to life.
Modern anti-allergic drugs not only help to quickly get rid of cough and remove other unpleasant symptoms, but in most cases have a prolonged effect - up to 48 hours.
This makes it possible not to be afraid of the appearance of a second attack for some time. And during this period, it is necessary to do everything possible to identify and eliminate the allergen as soon as possible.
The most effective antihistamines are:
- Kestin is a new generation drug with a validity period of up to 48 hours. So quickly relieves coughing and swelling that it even helps asthmatics. Has practically no contraindications, does not give drowsiness, can be used with alcohol.
Claritin is a more expensive analogue of the classic Loratadin. It differs from its predecessor only in the duration of action - up to 24 hours. Also it is combined with alcohol and does not cause drowsiness and inhibited reactions. It copes well with allergic cough and runny nose, but the maximum effect occurs only 20-30 minutes after ingestion.- Telfast allows you to forget about all the respiratory symptoms of allergies within an hour and for a whole day. Copes even with continued exposure to the allergen (presence of dust, pets, pollen). After consulting a doctor, it is possible to use the drug even during pregnancy.
- "Hismanal" - relieves cough and all other allergy symptoms for a whole day. Recommended for adults as a long-term drug for seasonal allergies. However, it does not work very well on the heart and kidneys, so people with chronic diseases of these organs are better off looking for another remedy.
- Vertex is one of the fastest-acting drugs that can stop a coughing fit in just minutes. And this is at a very reasonable price. But its significant drawback is a noticeable sedative effect. Not recommended for heart problems.
"Zodiac" - anti-allergic drops for adults and children. They act faster than most tablets due to the fact that the drug is instantly absorbed in liquid form. It is able to relieve even very severe swelling, as well as all respiratory symptoms. The sedative effect is subtle.- "Suprastin" - also acts very quickly and relieves not only cough, but also most other symptoms of allergy. But the effect is only short-term - up to several hours. It is useful in case of sudden allergic reactions, therefore it should always be in the first-aid kit both at home and in the car.
- "Histalong" - lasts up to a day, and can stop a coughing attack in 15-30 minutes. It also removes puffiness and heavy nasal discharge. At the same time, it has a weak cardiotoxic effect and a pronounced sedative effect. Best applied at night.
- "Fexofenadine" is a drug of the last fourth generation with a rapid and pronounced anti-allergic effect. Does not cause drowsiness, practically has no contraindications. At the same time, it acts 2.5 times faster and stronger than classic loratadine. The downside is the rather high price.
Claritin is a more expensive analogue of the classic Loratadin. It differs from its predecessor only in the duration of action - up to 24 hours. Also it is combined with alcohol and does not cause drowsiness and inhibited reactions. It copes well with allergic cough and runny nose, but the maximum effect occurs only 20-30 minutes after ingestion.
"Zodiac" - anti-allergic drops for adults and children. They act faster than most tablets due to the fact that the drug is instantly absorbed in liquid form. It is able to relieve even very severe swelling, as well as all respiratory symptoms. The sedative effect is subtle.As you can see, it is quite difficult to navigate independently in such an abundance of drugs. Therefore, as an emergency measure, you can use what was found at hand. And if attacks of allergic cough continue to recur for several days and even more so for weeks, a visit to the doctor is simply necessary.
Prevention measures
It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat and allergic cough is no exception. Moreover, in the absence of treatment or prolonged exposure to an allergen, it may well transform into chronic bronchitis, and after a while - into bronchial asthma, which is almost impossible to get rid of.
What should be done to prevent this from happening? First of all, observe all sanitary and hygienic standards: wash your hands after walking, ventilate the living space and regularly wet cleaning it.
But that's not all - other simple actions will help to avoid the appearance of allergies:
- careful caring for pets - regular bathing, combing wool, cleaning his bed and toilet;
- maintaining moderate humidity and comfortable air temperature in a residential, especially a sleeping room;
- general cleaning of living quarters with knocking out carpets and thorough cleaning of upholstered furniture should be done at least 3-4 times a year;
- mattress, bedding and accessories must be made from environmentally friendly hypoallergenic materials;
- it is better to choose clothes from natural fabrics (the exception is wool, if you are allergic to it), which does not contain a large amount of dyes;
before the first purchase of a good perfume (with a high content of volatile substances), be sure to use a sampler - an allergic cough may appear even an hour and a half after application;- in no case smoke in the living room, especially if there are still children there;
- the clothes of smoking adults should not be in the same closet with the nursery - they are already saturated with harmful compounds;
- all household chemicals should be used reasonably and stored in a closed cabinet in a carefully closed container.
before the first purchase of a good perfume (with a high content of volatile substances), be sure to use a sampler - an allergic cough may appear even an hour and a half after application;When an allergic cough appears in adults working in hazardous industries, this is a serious reason to think about changing jobs.
If it is not possible, then it is necessary to select and constantly use personal protective equipment. Only in this case you will not have to treat serious broncho-pulmonary diseases after a while.
