Cough for 18 days, go to the doctor immediately



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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – You are attacked by a cough that does not heal during the holidays, of course very disturbing. So, the question arises how long is the cough? When does a cough require over-the-counter medications? "If your cough has exceeded the 18-day limit, it may be time to see a doctor," said Benjamin Kaplan, MD, an internal medicine physician at Orlando Health, as reported in the medical journal, Thursday, December 27, 2018 .

Read: Frequent cough and shortness of breath? It is a symptom of pneumonia

One study found that most patients expect the longest cough to last seven to nine days, about half the number of days mentioned above. The researchers noted that this could increase the risk of unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Chronic cough, defined as the duration of cough for at least six to eight weeks, is an indicator of underlying medical conditions. However, even if duration is a factor, you should take note of the symptoms that accompany you and who can tell you when something has happened.

For example, gastroesophageal reflux can also cause a persistent cough without feeling of pain in the chest. You may have reason to doubt this if you have bad breath and a bitter taste in your mouth.

In addition, Kenneth Patton of Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati recently noted an increase in cases of poor respiratory infections. In general, persistent postnasal droplets (which persist even after the infection) are the cause of the cough.

Most patients, he said, have come to report an asthma that has slowly worsened, which is different from the flu that suddenly happened. "They shoot, their ribs work hard, you can see their neck muscles, you can really see that they have trouble breathing," Patton said.

If you smoke or have a second exposure, be aware that tobacco smoke can prolong coughing. There is also a risk of lung cancer if the cough is accompanied by chest pain, unexplained weight loss or bloody phlegm. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible to ensure early detection.

In other cases of chronic cough, doctors may suspect asthma and decide to pbad pulmonary function tests, Dr. Kaplan. There are also subtypes known as cough-variant asthma that are difficult to diagnose.

Read: The rainy season comes, cough attack. Overcome with this natural medicine

The fact is that you do not have to worry just because your cough has lasted more than ten days. See a doctor if you notice that it is getting worse or not responding to over-the-counter medications and home remedies. As noted earlier, monitor the accompanying symptoms as they can help your doctor make the correct diagnosis.

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