Which is more serious, a dry cough or a wet cough? Besides colds, what else can cause coughing?

In addition to being caused by colds and other diseases, coughing is sometimes also a way for our body to eliminate waste. If it does not affect your spirit and does not occur often, you don't need to pay special attention to it. However, if you cough for a long time, whether it is a dry cough or a wet cough, you should pay attention to it.

Which is more serious, dry cough or wet cough

Coughing is a warning signal that can be seen in many diseases, such as tumors, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, vasculitis, etc. The severity of the disease cannot be determined solely based on whether there is phlegm.

Conditions that cause dry cough

1. Early stage lung cancer

Smaller lung adenocarcinomas or squamous cell lung carcinomas can damage the airway mucosa and cause irritating dry coughs. Adults over 40 years old who experience paroxysmal dry coughs should pay attention to them.

2. Other tracheal tumors

For example, carcinoid, papilloma, mesenchymal sarcoma, bronchial metastatic carcinoma, etc., may have dry cough symptoms in the early stages, indicating invasion of the airway mucosa.

3. Early stage of inflammatory lesions

The most common is mycoplasma pneumonia, which attaches to the ciliated epithelium of the bronchus through adhesion proteins, releasing toxins to cause inflammation of the distal air spaces. The secretions of mycoplasma pneumonia are often viscous and difficult to cough up, so they often manifest as frequent dry coughs, which sometimes require nebulized inhalation dilution or bronchoalveolar lavage.

Conditions that cause wet cough

1. Lung cancer

Lung cancer can cause dry cough and sputum, even blood or purulent sputum. Some central lung cancers block the trachea and cause obstructive inflammation, which can cause purulent sputum or blood in the sputum.

Generally speaking, if cough symptoms persist, a chest CT scan should be performed in a timely manner.

2. Pneumonia consolidation and absorption phases

If coughing symptoms are accompanied by fever and elevated blood count, you should pay attention to pneumonia. After active treatment, large amounts of sputum may appear in the later stage, which is a sign of improvement.

3. Pulmonary tuberculosis and tracheal bronchial tuberculosis.

Active pulmonary tuberculosis often causes cough and sputum, which is contagious. Be sure to wrap and burn it. Sometimes pulmonary tuberculosis can also manifest as a dry cough.

In general, persistent cough symptoms, whether or not accompanied by sputum, should be checked by the respiratory department and receive timely symptomatic treatment.

What else can cause cough besides cold?

Coughs can be divided into dry coughs and wet coughs according to whether there is phlegm. Phlegm is also a substance that the body uses to eliminate waste or irritants. When the lower respiratory tract is inflamed, or a lot of dust, bacteria, and viruses enter the respiratory tract, our respiratory tract will secrete a lot of mucus to wrap these substances, forming what we call phlegm, and then through the action of coughing, these substances are expelled from the body together.

Dry cough means coughing without sputum. Most normal people have very little sputum. Common diseases with dry cough include acute pharyngitis, early tuberculosis, pleurisy, etc. It can also be seen as a side effect of some drugs, such as pril-type antihypertensive drugs, which can cause dry cough.

Wet cough is common in pneumonia, bronchitis, lung abscess, and active tuberculosis. At this time, lung or respiratory tract lesions and inflammatory reactions lead to increased sputum.

What is the difference between a dry cough and a phlegm cough?

Generally, dry cough refers to coughing without sputum or with little sputum, which is more common in pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, pleural disease, bronchial lung cancer, bronchial foreign body, etc.

A wet cough refers to a cough with sputum, which is more common in bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, lung abscess, tuberculosis, etc.

When judging the cause of a cough, we need to refer to the time, rhythm, timbre of the cough, the nature and amount of sputum, and the accompanying symptoms. For example, sudden cough is more common in bronchial foreign bodies and pharyngitis; paroxysmal cough is more common in bronchial asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis; morning cough is seen in bronchiectasis and lung abscess; barking cough is seen in laryngeal edema; pink foamy sputum is seen in left heart failure; cough with wheezing is seen in bronchial asthma; cough with hemoptysis is seen in pulmonary tuberculosis, etc.