Why do I have a cough and it won’t go away? Should I consult a doctor?

Why do I have a cough and can’t get rid of it? When should I see a doctor?free drawing

cough In addition to sore throats, headaches, and nasal congestion, symptom The most common situation is influenza Or a cold.

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Therefore, when we experience these symptoms, especially in autumn and winter, we do not take it too seriously, which is normal. However, If some of the typical symptoms of these dates last longer than they shouldwe should be worried.

Chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts for more than eight weeks.This is a very common symptom for many people Respiratory Diseases. However, unlike the cough characteristic of a cold, a cough usually lasts up to four to six weeks.

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this Dr. Astrid CrespoAssociate Physician in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Hospital de Saint-Croix in Barcelona and researcher at the Barcelona Respiratory Network (BRN), which promotes collaborative research in the field of respiratory health, explains:

• “Chronic cough doesn’t get the attention it deserves.”

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However, starting next year First drug with specific indication for chronic cough: Gefititan.

With details yet to be finalized, everything points to this being hospital prescription Pulmonologistas presented at a meeting held at the Respiratory Network in Barcelona.

Prevalence and diagnosis of chronic cough

A recent cross-sectional study showed The prevalence of chronic cough in the Spanish population is 5.5%.

Chronic cough is not a symptom

There is no specific diagnosis for chronic cough. Confirmation is made after ruling out different causes through a series of medical examinations (Rule out diagnosis) involves different specialists and levels of care.

• exist young patientsCauses of chronic cough such as allergies, rhinitis, or asthma should be ruled out.

• exist Elderly patients, It is necessary to check whether the cough is related to the following diseases: Causes such as gastroesophageal reflux or taking antihypertensive drugs (especially with ACE inhibitors), this is very common.

Don’t forget that smoking can be the cause of a chronic cough or illnesses related to this toxic habit, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis.

Experts point out that the most common reasons are Post-infectious pathology.

Runny nose and stuffy nose are one of the main symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

SARS-CoV-2 is an example, as a subgroup of patients affected by this infection have persistent COVID-19, namely They’ve had a cough for more than eight weeks As a result, they develop a chronic cough.this Cough secondary to infection Coronavirus disease it’s not contagiousbut from a serological perspective, the patient did not completely eliminate the virus.

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This is not a symptom

“Cough has a very significant impact on patients’ quality of life and their home environment, but people don’t realize it,” Dr. Crespo emphasized.

• People have always thought chronic cough it is symptom“when should be considered a disease”, its management is heterogeneous and must be multidisciplinary and addressed from different levels of care.

Children respond to nasal spray, which is the basis of this study, and we commonly use it to treat congestion and cold symptoms

Currently, there are no specific drugs for chronic cough; the drugs used have low efficacy and severe side effects because they act on the central nervous system level.

However, starting in 2024 we will have “A new drug that has achieved more than 75% response” Phase II and Phase III clinical trials are ongoing.

“We must agree on when patients should be referred to experts on the subject and increase interest in this pathology, giving it importance given its impact on patients’ quality of life,” stresses the pulmonologist.