Hypersecretion of viscous secretion is a key cause of nasal congestion and productive cough. Pathological processes in the respiratory organs arise in connection with the penetration of allergens or infectious agents into the body.
They irritate the mucous membrane of the throat, as a result of which a natural reflex reaction appears - forced exhalation, i.e. cough. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, you need to eliminate the cause of their occurrence, as well as undergo medical and physiotherapy treatment compiled by a doctor.
Causes of cough and runny nose
It should be understood that a cold is only one of the likely causes of rhinitis and cough. Adverse reactions in the respiratory tract most often occur against the background of a decrease in immunity and, as a result, the multiplication of pathogens in the mucous membrane of the throat and nose. Conventionally, all the causes of cough and runny nose can be divided into two categories:
Infectious
Nasal congestion, sore throat, malaise, and coughing are common manifestations of respiratory ailments. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi can act as provocateurs of inflammatory processes in the airways. Depending on the location of the inflammation, cough and rhinitis can signal the development of the following infectious diseases:
- rhinorrhea;
- nasopharyngitis;
- parainfluenza;
- flu;
- ARVI.
A cough with a runny nose is sometimes caused by mucus running down the back of the throat. A viscous liquid irritates the laryngopharyngeal mucosa and cough receptors, resulting in forced exhalation (cough). This disease is called postnasal flow syndrome. To eliminate the manifestations of the disease, it is enough to stop the inflammation in the nasopharynx and, accordingly, eliminate the hypersecretion of mucus in the nose.
Allergic
In 3 out of 10 cases, nasal congestion and cough syndrome manifest themselves against the background of an allergic reaction. As a rule, the following allergens act as provocateurs of inflammation in the nasopharynx:
- gassed air;
- Food;
- pollen of plants;
- ammonia and chlorine;
- perfumes;
- household chemicals;
- medicines.
Delayed treatment of an allergic cough is fraught with increased swelling in the airways and difficulty breathing.
The clinical manifestations of allergic cough and runny nose are not much different from the symptoms of an infectious disease. However, in most cases, undesirable reactions in the nasopharynx proceed without an increase in temperature. To alleviate the patient's condition, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the causal allergen, as well as take antihistamines.
Clinical picture
Clinical manifestations of allergic and infectious inflammation have several fundamental differences. Their ignorance most often becomes the reason for inadequate treatment of pathology and, as a result, aggravation of the state of health. It should be understood that taking antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs for allergies will not bring the desired therapeutic effect, but will only provoke complications.
Inadequate therapy for allergic rhinitis and cough leads to the development of allergic laryngitis and Quincke's edema.
There are several main symptoms that signal the development of an infection or allergic reaction in the respiratory system:
| Criteria | Infection | Allergy |
|---|---|---|
| cough | dry or wet | mostly dry |
| runny nose | yellowish or greenish discharge from the nose | clear and runny nasal discharge |
| temperature | present at the stage of exacerbation of the disease | absent |
| lacrimation | absent | is present |
| accompanying symptoms |
|
|
The methods of treating colds are almost identical, but there are fundamental differences between the principles of therapy for infection and allergies. To make sure that the diagnosis is correct, you need to undergo an instrumental examination by an ENT doctor.
Principles of therapy
You can cope with coughs and runny nose through medications and physiotherapy procedures. Timely passage of therapy can prevent further development of an allergic reaction or infection and normalize the function of the respiratory tract. The main objectives of pharmacotherapy are:
- elimination of inflammation;
- liquefaction and excretion of phlegm;
- restoration of the integrity of the mucous membranes;
- increased general and local immunity.
In the presence of subfebrile and febrile fever, it is recommended to stay in bed and consume plenty of warm drinks. Non-drug measures will contribute to the elimination of toxins from the body and reduce the load on the cardiovascular system. Compliance with simple rules allows you to speed up the healing process and prevent complications.
Symptomatic drugs
In most cases, the treatment of colds is limited to taking symptomatic drugs. They help to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and accelerate the regeneration processes in the laryngopharyngeal mucosa and nasal cavity. To eliminate dry cough and runny nose, it is enough to take antitussive tablets and nasal medications. However, it should be noted that antitussives can be used no more than 3 days in a row. 72 hours after the development of inflammation in the respiratory organs, mucus begins to be produced, which must be removed by means of mucolytics.
Depending on the concomitant manifestations of the disease, the following medications are usually included in the ARI treatment regimen:
| Medication type | Name | Indications for use |
|---|---|---|
| antipyretic |
| eliminate the manifestations of a febrile state, prevent dehydration |
| expectorant |
| reduce the viscosity of mucus and promote its excretion from the respiratory tract |
| antitussives |
| stop the cough reaction, make breathing easier (used only for unproductive cough) |
| vasoconstrictor |
| inhibit mucus production and facilitate nasal breathing |
| antiseptic |
| eliminate inflammation and accelerate the healing of the nasal mucosa |
| antihistamines |
| inhibit allergic reactions, eliminate puffiness and inflammation |
To avoid the appearance of cross-allergic reactions, it is recommended to refrain from eating foods with a high degree of allergenicity - honey, grapefruits, pomegranates, carbonated drinks, etc. throughout the entire period of treatment.
Physiotherapy procedures
Physiotherapy treatment involves the use of heat, water and other physical factors in order to increase local immunity. In particular, sanitizing procedures can clear the nasopharynx of infection and mucus, as well as prevent inflammation in other parts of the respiratory tract. To eliminate rhinitis and cough, the following types of physiotherapy are often used:
- inhalation with a nebulizer - liquefies mucus, eliminates inflammation and increases the reactivity of the nasopharyngeal mucosa; as preparations for inhalations, you can use "Lazolvan", "Dexamethasone", "Rotokan" and "Mukolvan";
- sanitation of the nasopharynx - clears the airways from sputum, dust, allergens and infectious agents; irrigation of mucous membranes is recommended in two ways:
- nasal lavage (Dolphin, Physiomer, Chlorhexidine) - carried out using a rubber bulb, an irrigator or neti pot (a teapot for washing the nose);
- gargling ("Tantum Verde", "Elyudril", "Chlorophyllipt") - carried out with a warm solution at least 3 times a day in order to eliminate cough;
- foot baths - dilate blood vessels in the lower extremities, thereby increasing the outflow of intercellular fluid from the respiratory system; during the procedure, it is advisable to add dry mustard to the water, which promotes intensive heating of the tissues.
Do not use foot baths at elevated temperatures, as this will provoke the spread of infection.
It is important to understand that a fever, cough, runny nose, and sneezing actually "help" the body to fight off the infection. Due to the increase in temperature, more interferon begins to be synthesized in the body, and coughing, sneezing and a runny nose stimulate the excretion of sputum and pathogens from the bronchi, trachea, nasal cavity and throat. That is why, in the absence of complications, doctors advise to abandon drugs in favor of physiotherapy procedures that help alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
