A cough is a repetitively occurring defence reflex which helps in clearing the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. Cough can be due to allergies, asthma, lung infection, obstructive pulmonary disorders, exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoking, etc. Coughing can be quite distressing and the person may become so restless with the cough that he may find methods on how to stop the coughing.
The asthma cough is persistent, chronic and occurs during the nighttime while an allergy cough stops during the night, when the patient sleeps. Allergy cough usually worsens when there is a body change position, when lying down or getting up in the morning. In the whooping cough there is sudden intake of air and a whooping sound is heard when air is inhaled. Acute bronchitis cough is deep and painful. The cough brings up a greenish yellow phlegm or sputum.
It is not only humans who suffer from cough but animals too suffer from cough. Kennel cough or tracheobronchitis is a highly contagious canine illness which is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. Kennel cough can be caused by viral infections such as canine distemper, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza virus, or canine respiratory coronavirus, or bacterial infections such as Bordetella bronchiseptica. It is known as kennel cough as the infection spreads quickly among dogs, such as in the close quarters of a kennel.
To suppress or relieve the cough reflex, cough drops are administered. Cough drop is a medicinal tablet which is designed to deliver active ingredients which suppress or relieve the cough reflex.
