A wet cough is considered productive and is accompanied by an active discharge of sputum. As a rule, this symptom is typical for bronchitis, acute respiratory viral infections, pneumonia and other ailments of the respiratory tract. Unlike dry, unproductive bronchospasm, it is much easier to treat a cough with sputum due to less intense irritation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and pharynx.
So you are sick. The question immediately arises: how to treat a wet cough? Do not panic and find out the root cause of bronchospasm.
Coughing factors
With a wet cough in adults, sputum is formed in large quantities due to the increased secretion of bronchial secretions. To determine the nature of the disease and choose the right drugs for a wet cough, the separated mucus should be examined. So, vitreous sputum, presented in the form of transparent casts, indicates bronchial asthma. Mucus brown or reddish color indicates pneumonia. The presence of pus is often the result of a pulmonary abscess.
In addition to colds, bouts of wet productive cough can accompany the following diseases:
- Inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses. We are talking about different types of sinusitis - sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, and so on.
- Whooping cough. Most often, this pathology occurs in children. Its constant companion is a lingering wet cough.
- Asthma. As noted above, seizures of cough are characterized by the separation of clear, vitreous mucus. Dyspnea and wheezing during breathing complement the clinical picture.
- In tuberculosis, bronchospasms are protracted and painful. Blood clots are observed in the sputum.
In addition, bouts of wet cough can be caused by hypothermia. This is typical for those who are accustomed to dress not for the weather, to consume cold drinks and food in autumn and winter. In this case, fever is an additional symptom. Another cause of bronchospasm is seasonal allergic reactions.
There is also the so-called production factor. We are talking about working in dusty rooms or in enterprises with hazardous production.
A wet cough is becoming one of the constant companions of those who live in an ecologically unfavorable region. It usually occurs in adults.
Cough attacks and coughing are not only accompanied by pathologies of the respiratory tract. They are often found in patients with cardiovascular ailments. In this case, symptoms appear immediately after eating or at night. And, of course, a wet cough is often diagnosed in smokers.
Medicines that should not be taken
What drugs for a wet cough to choose? It is not recommended to use some products. Not all medicines purchased without consulting a doctor on the advice of a pharmacist bring relief. Sometimes they even worsen the clinical picture.
The use of antitussives is strictly prohibited. They are used only for dry coughs without the formation of phlegm. Their key task is to suppress the cough reflex and reduce the intensity of mucosal irritation. The use of these drugs with a wet cough leads to an active accumulation of sputum and is fraught with pneumonia. We are talking about drugs such as "Atussin", "Codeine" and so on.
Doctors advise to carefully use mucolytics for wet coughs. Of course, they thin phlegm, help to evacuate it from the body and have an anti-inflammatory effect. But they should be used only in cases where the passage of mucus is difficult due to its high viscosity.
Typically, the following mucolytic wet cough medications are prescribed:
- "Lazolvan";
- Bromhexine;
- "ACC";
- Ambrobene.
Syrups for thinning and coughing up phlegm
Sputum cough syrup is considered to be the safest and most convenient medicine for both children and adults. Their active ingredient quickly enters the bloodstream and is well absorbed by the body. Typically, the syrup is consumed 3 times a day. So what are the best wet cough remedies?
- The most commonly used "Pertussin" is an inexpensive and available drug in any pharmacy. It is based on thyme and thyme extracts. Well stimulates the secretion of mucus, makes the phlegm less viscous. Thanks to the addition of potassium bromide, it has a calming effect on the body. The medicine can be used from the age of three.
Mucolytic agent "Herbion" significantly facilitates and accelerates the passage of mucus. In addition to thyme, it also contains primrose extract and menthol. The syrup has a combined effect on the body: it has an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. "Gerbion" can be used from two years old.- Prospan is a cough medicine based on healing ivy leaves. It stimulates the bronchial glands, liquefies phlegm and quickly removes it from the body. In addition, the drug relaxes smooth bronchial muscles. The syrup helps to quickly and gently cure a productive wet cough. Applied from one year.
- "Ambroxol" and its analogs should be taken carefully and only in those cases when a wet cough does not go away for a long time. This drug has an intense mucolytic effect and is indicated for difficult sputum discharge. It should not be used by patients with peptic ulcer disease.
- "Fluditek" has a mucolytic, expectorant effect on the body and is based on carbocisteine. The drug is produced for children (two percent) and for adults (five percent). If necessary, it can be used to treat infants.
Mucolytic agent "Herbion" significantly facilitates and accelerates the passage of mucus. In addition to thyme, it also contains primrose extract and menthol. The syrup has a combined effect on the body: it has an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. "Gerbion" can be used from two years old.Potions
Potions are very effective remedies for wet coughs in adults and children. This is a liquid or powder form of a drug that is diluted in water. First of all, one should name a medicine that has no commercial name, but it is sold in any pharmacy. This is Dry Cough Syrup. It is presented in the form of a dry powdery substance. The drug is dissolved in water and then stored in the refrigerator for no more than 48 hours.
In addition, your doctor may prescribe a dry cough syrup for children. It contains a wide range of medicinal substances:
- anise oil;
- extracts of licorice root and marshmallow;
- sodium bicarbonate and so on.
This product can be bought everywhere. It is sold in sachets and diluted in a tablespoon of warm water.
To improve coughing up in an adult, a special mixture containing thermopsis extract is used. This component is not used in pediatric medicines, as it often depresses breathing and can provoke severe vomiting.
The active substances of syrups are also included in mixtures. So, we all know "Bromhexine" contains bromhexine hydrochloride. This wet cough mixture promotes the active production of phlegm and significantly reduces its viscosity. It has a combined effect - expectorant and mucolytic.
Remedies from the arsenal of traditional medicine
How to treat a wet cough in an adult and a child, except for pharmaceutical preparations? Do not forget about folk recipes. They are time-tested and have been able to prove their effectiveness over many years.
Use black radish - it can be safely called a unique cough suppressant without any side effects.It will not be difficult to prepare a healing syrup based on it. Make a small hole in the radish and pour liquid honey there. Wait a couple of hours and remove the resulting juice. Take it throughout the day.
Another very useful vegetable is onions. It needs to be finely chopped, add a teaspoon of honey or regular white sugar. The juice obtained in this way is consumed 3 times a day, one spoonful.
Do not forget about warm cow's milk - an excellent remedy for colds and flu, which are accompanied by the active formation of phlegm. Add a little soda and honey to the warmed milk. Honey can be used alone if desired. Dissolve it in tea or plain water. The beekeeping product contains a large amount of antioxidants, has a calming and mucolytic effect.
A remedy for cough inhalation for children, prepared on the basis of medicinal herbs, helps a lot. For procedures, you can use decoctions of chamomile, calendula, sage. Inhalation is carried out once a day for 15 minutes.
The effectiveness of folk recipes is confirmed by official medicine. However, medicinal herbs should be used only after consulting a doctor and only in the initial stages of the disease. A long-lasting, exhausting cough must be treated with medications.
Of course, a cough pill will help thin the mucus. But the patient should not sit idly by. To make your therapy more effective, we advise you to pay attention to the following helpful tips:
- ventilate living rooms daily;
- if possible, use more warm liquid;
- monitor the level of humidity in the room;
- do wet cleaning regularly;
- practice chest and back massage;
- give up bad habits at least for a while.
All this will significantly speed up recovery and alleviate the patient's condition. Listen carefully to your body, always consult a specialist before treatment. Be healthy!
