The doctor told whether folk remedies are effective in treating a prolonged cough

Cold weather has arrived, and with it the season of acute respiratory viral infections. On December 26, Oksana Balabaeva, a pulmonologist at Invitro-Voronezh, told Izvestia about the cause of prolonged cough after acute respiratory viral infection, who is especially prone to prolonged cough and how to treat it.

"Depending on the duration of the cough is divided into acute - up to four weeks, protracted (post-infection) - from four to eight weeks, and chronic - more than eight weeks. Although the most common reason to consult a doctor is an acute cough on the background of acute respiratory viral infections, no less alarming to patients is a cough that does not go away for a long time and becomes protracted. In most cases, this is a dry cough or with the release of a small amount of sputum. In this case, as a rule, pathological changes on chest X-ray are not detected," she said.

Most often the cause of prolonged cough is post-infectious damage to the mucous membrane of the throat and bronchi. It occurs due to hypersensitivity of cough receptors, bronchial hyperreactivity after a viral infection. Also prolonged coughing in adults can be a consequence of a sterile course of pertussis, for example, in patients who were vaccinated against this infection in childhood.

Bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be causes of prolonged and chronic cough, with coughing often the only symptom of the disease.

"If you have a lingering cough after an acute respiratory infection, you should see your primary care physician. Diagnosis usually requires a period of observation (up to eight weeks) with concurrent symptomatic treatment. If the cough persists or worsens, further evaluation may be required. Symptoms at the appearance of which it is desirable to consult a doctor as soon as possible: hemoptysis, shortness of breath or suffocation with minor exertion, an increase in body temperature after a period of improvement in health, the appearance of sputum yellow, green color with an unpleasant odor, "- said the specialist.

After collecting complaints, anamnesis and physical examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary studies.

The specialist noted that folk remedies to combat a protracted cough are most often inappropriate.

"Radish is an excellent food product that has some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, but its use for therapeutic purposes is inappropriate. If the disease runs easily, then radish will not harm. However, in a severe form, rely only on this vegetable can not. Inhalations with potato steam - a relic of the past, when there were no drugs that well eliminate cough. Nowadays, doctors prescribe effective and fast-acting drugs," said Balabaeva.

Earlier, on November 26, nutritionist Daria Rusanova shared a list of products that strengthen the immune system and protect against acute respiratory viral infections. She advised products containing probiotics: kefir, natural yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi - Korean sauerkraut, miso, kombucha. Prebiotic foods - fruits, vegetables, herbs, legumes, mushrooms and whole grain products - are also essential. To protect against acute respiratory infections, the body also needs foods with synbiotics - fermented milk products with prebiotics: oligosaccharides, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides.