If the cough doesn't go away: "Circulating" infection could be the cause
Created: 12/16/2022, 06:30 am
By: Juliane Gutmann
The cold just won't go away?
Cough is often persistent.
There are a number of causes that should be clarified by a doctor.
In winter, respiratory infections regularly paralyze entire regions.
In the second week of December 2022 alone, around 9.3 million people in Germany were affected by an acute respiratory infection such as the flu or a common cold, according to an estimate by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
This was shown, among other things, by overcrowded pediatric practices due to a wave of RSV infections and high sick leave numbers in companies.
In most cases, an infection with influenza viruses, typical cold viruses such as rhinoviruses or the Covid-19 pathogen Sars-CoV-2 can be cured at home without a medical examination.
Rest, plenty of sleep and home remedies for typical cold symptoms such as a sore throat and cough help to cure the infection more quickly.
But in some cases, a persistent cough occurs after a cold or other respiratory infection.
If the cough does not want to go away, a so-called "circulating infection" can be the cause.
© Frédéric Cirou/Imago
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Chronic cough: After three to four weeks to the doctor
If the cough lasts longer than three or four weeks, doctors speak of a chronic cough.
This form should always be clarified by a doctor, the lung doctors inform on their portal.
It is often repeated respiratory infections, so-called circular infections, that lead to a long-lasting cough, it is said.
In winter, the risk of becoming reinfected with cold viruses is high.
One cause is frequent stays indoors in dry heating air, which dries out the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose and makes them more susceptible to virus attack.
But long evenings at Christmas markets in sub-zero temperatures and Christmas parties, where a lot of alcohol is consumed, also weaken our immune system.
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In addition to circling infections, other problems can also be behind a chronic cough.
Lung doctors list the following possible causes, among others:
bronchial asthma
allergies and food intolerances
chronic bronchitis and COPD (common in smokers)
Chronic sinusitis (sinusitis)
lung infection
Side effect of medication (e.g. beta blockers)
lung cancer
heart attack or myocarditis
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Help with persistent cough
If the diagnosed underlying disease is successfully treated, the chronic cough usually disappears.
If a circulating infection is the cause, you should take it easy until your body has completely cured the infection.
Sufficient sleep and temporarily avoiding strenuous exercise are essential.
According to Techniker Krankenkasse, coughing is the main symptom of acute bronchitis.
If the course is uncomplicated, this usually heals by itself.
However, the symptoms can be alleviated.
Cough suppressants help you get a good night's sleep.
In the case of stuck mucus in the bronchi, on the other hand, expectorants are used to promote expectoration.
If the symptoms of an impending infection do not improve within a few days, you measure a high fever and your general condition tends to deteriorate, you should consult a doctor. This person can decide whether further measures need to be taken in addition to home remedies. Without medical help, the risk of complications such as pneumonia, heart muscle inflammation or other serious consequences increases in the event of a severe infection.
