(Health Tips)

COUGH (Health Tips)


Noisy expulsion of air from lungs, at once is known as cough.
Causes
Acute (3 weeks)

Upper respiratory viral or bacterial infection such as common cold and acute bronchitis.
Other causes acute asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary adema.

Chronic

Chronic bronchitis (smoker’s cough)
Postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease
Chronic bronchial asthma
Tuberculosis
Interstitial lung disease
Bronchogenic carcinoma
ACE inhibitors

Treatment
Eliminate irritant exposure such as tobacco smoke, occupational agents and discontinue ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers.
Treatment of the cause
· Common cold: antihistamine and decongestant combination.
· Asthma: bronchodilators and corticosteroids.
· Postnasal drip: intranasal steroid spray such as Nasacort AQ.

Symptomatic treatment

Dry cough
Syp: Actified DM
Syp: Pholcodine
Syp: Davenol
Syp: Tixylix
Syp: Sancos
Syp: Benatuss
Syp: Hydryllin DM

Productive cough: (Expectorants)
Syp: Hydryllin
Syp: Benadryl
Syp: Reltus
Syp: Histamol-D

Examination of sputum
Quantity

Scanty: Bronchitis, early stage of pneumonia, asthma.
Moderate amount: Chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis.
Large amount: Bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and lung abscess.

Appearance

Watery: Pulmonary congestion, pulmonary edema.
Mucoid: Acute & chronic bronchitis, asthma.
Mucopurulent: All infections of lungs & bronchi.
Purulent: Bronchiectasis, lung abscess, pulmonary tuberculosis.

Color

Blockish: due to inhalation of carbon.
Rusty (khaki): due to altered blood mixed with sputum in lobar pneumonia.
Reddish: indicates hemoptysis.
Frothy pink: in pulmonary edema.
Sticky brown to red: in Klebsiella infection.

COUGH (Health Tips)
http://doctor-tips-for-health.blogspot.com/2011/04/medical-diagnosis-and-management-doctor.html