Will constant coughing lead to pneumonia? It turns out that I have always misunderstood it! How to prevent pneumonia →

Myth: "If you keep coughing, you will cough up pneumonia."

Many parents become very nervous when they hear their children cough once or twice occasionally. They think that the cough must be stopped immediately, otherwise it will lead to pneumonia.

Rumor analysis: Not true.

We must be clear that cough is a symptom and pneumonia is a disease. From the perspective of causality, cough is a symptom of pneumonia, not the cause of pneumonia. In other words, pneumonia (or other diseases) comes first, then the cough symptom occurs, not cough becomes pneumonia.

The transition between autumn and winter is a high-incidence period for respiratory diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, and pneumonia. Recently, many people have been hospitalized for mycoplasma pneumonia, especially adult cases, which are on the rise. The main symptom of many patients is a persistent cough, which leads to a common misconception that "coughing will cough up pneumonia." However, this view is not accurate.

Coughing does not cause pneumonia

First of all, we must make it clear that coughing does not cause pneumonia. Coughing is just a symptom, not the disease itself. It is usually caused by respiratory infections and allergic reactions, such as colds, sinusitis, bronchitis, rhinitis, asthma, etc. In terms of causality, the disease is the cause of the symptoms, and the symptoms themselves do not cause the disease. Therefore, confusing the causal relationship between "coughing" and "pneumonia" can easily lead to misunderstandings.

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Pneumonia, especially mycoplasma pneumonia, is an inflammation of the lungs caused by pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. These pathogens are usually transmitted to the respiratory tract through the air or droplets. Coughing is actually a defense mechanism of the body that helps to clear pathogens and secretions from the respiratory tract. Of course, a prolonged cough may indicate the presence of an infection or underlying disease, but this does not mean that coughing itself will directly cause pneumonia.

Correctly understand mycoplasma pneumonia

We need to have a correct understanding of mycoplasma pneumonia. It is a disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is cyclical and regional. In some areas, especially in autumn and winter, its incidence may increase. The initial symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia are often mild, mainly manifested as a persistent dry cough. However, there are other early symptoms that can help identify mycoplasma pneumonia in time:

· Prodromal symptoms such as headache, sore throat, and discomfort

· Low-grade or high fever (may last for several days)

· Dry cough or sputum

Mild chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath

· Persistent fatigue and loss of appetite

Diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia

1. Diagnostic methods

Doctors usually make a preliminary diagnosis based on the patient's clinical symptoms and implement treatment; they may also recommend a chest X-ray or pathogen laboratory test (such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test) to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Treatment

When mycoplasma pneumonia is highly suspected or confirmed, doctors generally prescribe antibiotic treatment, such as macrolides (such as azithromycin, clarithromycin), tetracyclines (such as doxycycline) or fluoroquinolones (such as levofloxacin). In addition to drug treatment, patients also need to get enough rest, maintain adequate water intake, and use antipyretics and analgesics to relieve symptoms according to the doctor's advice.

How to prevent Mycoplasma pneumonia?

Although pneumonia is not directly caused by coughing, preventing respiratory infections and strengthening immunity are important to reduce the risk of pneumonia:

Maintain good hygiene habits: wash your hands frequently and avoid contact with infected people.

Strengthen your physical fitness: Exercise moderately to improve immunity and avoid excessive fatigue.

· Ventilation and disinfection: Improve ventilation in confined spaces to reduce the spread of germs.

In addition, it is recommended to wear a mask for prevention in crowded places, especially places with poor air circulation and higher risks (such as fever clinics and respiratory clinics).

Summarize

In summary, the main cause of mycoplasma pneumonia is infection, not coughing. We should pay attention to persistent coughing symptoms and seek medical attention as soon as possible, but we should also eliminate the misunderstanding that "coughing will cause pneumonia." Through scientific prevention and early treatment, we can better protect the health of ourselves and our families.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

Such rumors often simply link a common symptom (such as coughing) with a serious disease (such as pneumonia), implying a causal relationship. In fact, coughing is just one of the symptoms of pneumonia, and you will not "cough out pneumonia" simply because of coughing.

When we encounter such rumors, we should consider whether they are in line with medical common sense or whether there is scientific evidence to support such claims. Ask more "whys" to help yourself clarify the logical loopholes in the rumors.

References

[1] Julio A Ramirez. Overview of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/zh-Hans/overview-of-community-acquired-pneumonia-in-adults. (Accessed on Apr 05, 2024).

[2]Stephen G Baum. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in adults. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/zh-Hans/mycoplasma-pneumoniae-infection-in-adults. (Accessed on Aug 06, 2024).

[7]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

[8] https://apaxmedical.com/

Author: Fan Yunzhu Hangzhou Ho Yun Chia Hospital Nha Trang Clinic

Reviewer: Li Dongzeng, Chief Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital