When a patient suffers from a persistent, dry cough that does not involve any mucus expulsion from the respiratory tract, it may be called cough-induced asthma. Wheezing and breathlessness, which are the typical signs of asthma, may be missing in this case. If such a condition persists for more than two months, it may be classified as chronic cough. This type of asthma attack may get triggered at any point of time during the night or day. Children are more commonly affected with this condition than adults.
Causes of Cough-Induced Asthma
The exact causes of this type of asthma remain unknown. However, many doctors believe that people who are more prone to allergies may be more easily affected with this condition. The air passages may become irritated and swollen in this condition, inducing the patient to cough in an attempt to relieve the irritation.
Cold weather may also facilitate the development of this condition in some patients. Certain beta-blocker drugs have been known to induce this type of dry cough in some patients. Sometimes this type of asthma may be accompanied by an infection of the upper respiratory tract.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing this type of asthma can be more challenging because of a general lack of symptoms except a persistent, non-productive cough. Digital imaging and other physical exams may not reveal the symptoms. The physician will assess the patient’s medical history, and try to evaluate the condition by listening to the patient’s breathing.
Treatment for cough-induced asthma is similar to that of a typical case of asthma. It may involve the use of a bronchodilator to help reduce the irritation of the bronchial tubes. A small daily dose of steroids may also be administered through an inhaler to treat the symptoms.
Home Remedies for Cough-Induced Asthma
Natural remedies have been traditionally used to treat this condition. Scientific studies have not established the effectiveness of such natural treatments, but many patients report temporary relief from the cough. One of the common home remedies is a few drops of honey mixed with half a cup of warm water or tea. This mixture can be consumed just before sleep so that it can continue to provide some relief from the cough at night.
Foods containing known allergic ingredients should be avoided. Garlic, honey, olive oil, and ginger-based drinks are also known to provide soothing effect in this condition. Some alternative healers recommend a mixture of aloe vera and honey to achieve relief from the dry cough. The patient’s surroundings must be kept dust-free as far as possible to reduce the chances of allergy from dust mites.
Source:
Webmd.com “Cough-Variant Asthma” (accessed on April 3, 2011)
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