What is Cough?
Cough is sudden, often repetitive, spasmodic contraction of the thoracic cavity, resulting in violent release of air from the lungs
Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating the air passages

What are the causes of cough?
Causes differ according to kind of cough:
 

Acute cough		Chronic cough
Infectious (caused by an infection)	Noninfectious	The common causes of chronic dry coughing include post-nasal drip, gastro esophageal reflux disease, asthma, post viral cough and certain drugs such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and aspirin
Infectious causes of acute cough include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus infections, pneumonia, and whooping cough.	Noninfectious causes of cough include flare-ups of the following chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies.

What are the symptoms of cough?

Acute cough		Chronic cough
Infectious	Noninfectious	If cough is related to environmental irritants If patient has a chronic lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, there may be a persistent cough or a cough that worsens with certain locations or activities If cough is caused by chronic sinus infections, chronic runny nose, or chronic postnasal drip. If cough is associated with medications If cough associated with GERD (gastro esophageal reflux)
Fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats, and postnasal drip. Sputum, or phlegm	when you are exposed to certain chemicals or irritants in the environment, coughs with wheezing, coughs that routinely worsen when you go to certain locations or do certain activities

How to treat cough?
Coughs can be treated with cough medicines:
► Dry coughs are treated with cough suppressants (antitussives) that suppress the body's urge to cough: e.g.
Dextromethorphan.
Inspiration Productive coughs (coughs that produce phlegm) are treated with expectorants that loosen mucus from the respiratory tract; e.g. Guiafenesin, Sedopect & Solvex.

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