What to do when the cough does not pass for 2 weeks, directly depends on many factors, but the main one is the correctness of the diagnosis. A usual cough caused by a cold or flu should subside within 7-10 days. If this did not happen, then the treatment was not selected correctly. The reason for this is most often the faulty diagnosis, or its absence at all. After all, admit, not all of us after the first sneeze run to the doctor.
Why does the coughing last 2 weeks or more?
The fact that coughing for two weeks does not go wrong with the mistakes in the treatment. Usually with colds, we try to knock down the fever as soon as possible and cope with a runny nose and cough. But after all, all these symptoms are not the disease itself, but the reaction to it of the organism! And the nature of these symptoms is quite logical: at a temperature of 37-38 degrees, bacteria lose the ability to multiply and perish.
The same goes for viruses. With the help of a cold, a person's body clears the nasal passage, flushing new bacteria from the mucous membrane, and cough serves to excrete the products of the life-activity of pathogens and mucus from the lower parts of the respiratory system. That's why, when a dry cough does not pass for 2 weeks, you should take not antitussive medicines, but mucolytics. They contribute to the dilution of phlegm and make the cough moist. When the bronchi are cleared - the cough will stop by itself, without the use of medication. This will avoid such serious complications as bronchitis and pneumonia .
Also, one should not forget that drinking with colds should be abundant, otherwise the body will not have the opportunity to produce mucus, remove toxins and metabolic products. Incidentally, it is the excessively dry air in the room and the lack of fluid in the body with an increased external temperature most often caused by coughing in children. It may not be associated with a cold at all, being a reaction of sensitive mucous nasopharynx to climatic conditions.
In addition to colds and complications on its background, the reason that an adult can not cough for 2 weeks may be such factors:
- allergy;
- smoking;
- chronic bronchitis ;
- presence of benign and malignant tumors in respiratory organs;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- neurological diseases;
- defeat of pulmonary structures.
Than to cure if it does not pass 2 weeks?
The first thing that should be done with a prolonged cough is to consult a doctor. Only after the true cause of this symptom is identified, it will be possible to talk about treatment. Do it yourself is very difficult: to recognize pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchitis, or pneumonia without special manipulation is impossible. In addition, often the cause of coughing may be an allergy, a reaction to medications, or chemicals. It has long been noted that many drugs used in the therapy of heart disease cause a cough as a side effect. Also, the cause of a protracted cough may be osteochondrosis or cramping of the neck muscles. There are cases when a cough provokes excessive emotional stress and stress. Agree, it is better to entrust diagnostics to professionals.
If you are sure that the cough is caused by a cold, we can recommend such ways of fighting it:
- bed rest and copious drinking;
- cleanliness in the room, good air humidity;
- reduced temperature in the patient's room;
- peace;
- if necessary - the reception of expectorant medicines, antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
Under these conditions, the body is much easier to cope with a bacterial and viral infection on its own. But it is worth remembering that this is possible only if there is enough good immunity.