Lately, I also tense up when I have a slight cough due to COVID-19. But when you take a look, dozens of diseases cause coughs. At a time like this, let us learn about the main characteristics of some diseases and manage them wisely.
■If a Cough Lasts More Than 2 Weeks, It May Not Be Cold
Cough, like fever, is one of the immune reactions. Cough prevents harmful, various substances from entering into the airway, and expels them as much as possible to keep the airway clear.
However, if a cough lasts more than 2~3 weeks, then it’s different. It is because simple coughs do not last that long. Depending on how long it lasts, a cough is classified as ▲acute cough (less than 2 weeks) ▲subacute cough (3~8 weeks) ▲chronic cough (more than 8 weeks).
■Possible Diseases Except for Cold
▲Cold=It’s good to be aware of the main symptoms of a cold first. Symptoms of cold are not only a cough but also runny nose, stuffy nose, headache, and slight fever. High fever and chills may appear, and conjunctivitis and diarrhea may also rarely follow, but these symptoms improve within a week.
▲Acute bronchitis=Appears when a virus infects bronchial tubes, inflammation occurring as a result. This causes acute cough within 2 weeks, and it’s more likely to occur in cold, dry winter.
Specific symptoms are severe cough and phlegm, muscular pain, chills, and chest discomfort. The pattern begins from a dry cough to a cough with mucus and then to improvements of symptoms. In rare cases, high fever, shortness of breath, and rhinitis may follow, requiring a careful observation.
“Likewise, when the airway become hypersensitive after bronchial tube infection, a cough might continue (subacute cough), but it gets better in about 8 weeks if receive a proper treatment,“ Lee Byoung Hoon, a professor at the Respiratory Allergy Internal Medicine Department of Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University emphasized and noted, “However, if a cough lasts more than 8 weeks (chronic cough), identifying whether it’s a different disease like asthma is very essential.”
▲Asthma=One of the typical diseases that cause chronic coughs, occurring in people of all ages from children to elderly. The airway narrows too much, causing a wheeze and difficulty in breathing. Usually, if a cough lasts more than 3 weeks with these symptoms, then we can expect asthma. However, there is also cough-variant asthma, where cough is the only symptom. If a cough does not improve, it’s better to see a specialist for an accurate diagnosis.
▲Pneumonia=Pneumonia is an inflammatory respiratory disease in which various types of bacteria or viruses enter the lungs and cause inflammations. The most common cause is pneumococcus that brings bacterial pneumonia, but it’s significant to find the accurate causative agent since dozens of different bacteria or virus could be the cause.
Pneumonia begins with symptoms such as cough, fever, and chills just like cold, but distinctively, fever higher than 38℃, severe coughs, and yellow mucus last more than a week. “Elderly, in particular, can show untypical symptoms like having no energy or appetite, needing even more careful observation,” emphasized Park So Jung, a professor at the Department of Pulmonology, Ewha Woman's University Mokdong Hospital.
▲COVID-19=Currently, COVID-19 is the most problematic disease having emerged in Wuhan, China, and had been called “pneumonia of unknown origin,” but the research revealed that it is a respiratory infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus.
As of today, major symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever (37.5℃), cough, respiratory symptoms (sore throat, shortness of breath, etc.), and pneumonia appear after 2~14 days of incubation period according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“However, because there are continual of asymptomatic cases and unable to confirm COVID-19 only with respiratory symptoms, it’s necessary to receive a diagnosis test, following the health authorities’ measures if you suspect a case,” Kim Woo Joo, a doctor at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Korea University Guro Hospital said.
▲Heart disease=Not only respiratory diseases but also heart diseases cause a dry cough. Mostly it occurs suddenly during sleep due to blood driven to the back, pressuring the lungs when lying down.
“In this case, fortunately, you can switch your position to relieve cough, but chronic cough from patients with high blood pressure and diabetes are related to heart diseases and that preventive treatment should be steadily taken,” Choi Jae Woong, a professor at the Cardiology Department of Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University advised and added, “If you see a bloodstain with bubbles instead of yellow phlegm when you cough, you must suspect a heart disease and receive an accurate diagnosis.”
▲Others=If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), what’s in your stomach flows back into and directly triggers esophagus or bronchial tubes, causing a frequent cough. Also, a postnasal drip in which mucus from the runny nose drains down the back of your throat causes a persistent cough.
