Chronic cough: differential diagnosis and treatment

Cough is one of the most common symptoms and is present in diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine and other systems. Cough is a reflex act, therefore it is caused by stimulation of cough receptors due to pathological influences. The diagnosis takes into account the nature of the cough, its duration, the results of laboratory and instrumental examination methods. The most attention is required to diagnose chronic cough and exclude life-threatening causes. Symptoms of anxiety are hemoptysis, prolonged resistant cough, prolonged intoxication syndrome, weight loss, etc. In diagnostically unclear cases, the examination schedule must include computed tomography of the chest, magnetic resonance imaging and bronchoscopy. A dry, painful intense cough can lead to the development of complications: a decrease in the quality of life, hemorrhages, pneumothorax, etc., therefore, requires symptomatic treatment. A common cause of unproductive cough is viral diseases, whooping cough, diseases leading to overactive cough receptors. The variety of coughs determines a differentiated approach to its therapy. The main efforts should be directed to the treatment of the underlying disease. In the case of a productive cough, mucoactive drugs are used. To stop unproductive cough, antitussive drugs of central and peripheral action are used. The recommendations of the European Respiratory Society present the results of clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of antitussive drugs with morphine-like action. The study identified side effects that limit their use. One of the most effective and safe drugs is a non-opioid drug with a central action Sinekod. The effectiveness and safety of the drug is confirmed by clinical studies.

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