A sore throat is a standard ailment that may be a consequence of many factors. Although a sore throat is primarily linked with a cold or tonsillitis, it may also accompany other conditions. Those are scarlet fever, measles, or, of course, whooping cough.
A sore throat caused by bacteria can be significantly more intense. It may be with a high temperature. If the sore throat is persistent, accompanied by hoarseness, difficulty, pain when swallowing, or a foreign body sensation – see a doctor.
A sore throat sometimes makes work challenging and, in addition to distress, worsens well-being. Illness is not pleasant, which is why we always look for the best possible treatment. Treatment of a sore throat involves combating the symptoms using antipyretics, drugs that suppress a runny nose, and those that combat sore throat and cough. To avoid complications specialists usually prescribe antibiotics lasting about 10 days. It is essential to take the entire medication (the entire course, blister, bottle of suspension), even if you feel better. Stopping the antibiotic too early may leave some bacteria alive, which may cause you to get sick again.
2.
A cough is the most typical sign of respiratory disease. It is a defensive, unconditioned reflex that aims to clear the respiratory tract of excess secretions and foreign bodies, mechanical factors (pollen, dust, cigarettes), or inflammatory factors (viral, bacterial infections), and can also be consciously induced. A short-term cough is usually not a cause for concern. However, a long-term cough can be an alarming symptom, so do not ignore this symptom and visit a doctor.
The mechanism of cough formation consists of forced inhalation and then exhalation with the initial closure of the glottis. As a rule, cough does not cause complications but severe continuous coughs can lead to fainting, rib issues, respiratory muscle injuries, or the failure of ophthalmological and neurosurgical procedures in some patients.
Since chronic cough is tiring, many patients wonder how to cure it. The truth is that it all depends on the cause of the cough because as we know, it is only a symptom and treatment will help with the symptoms, not eliminate the cause. The primary care physician directs the patient to the appropriate specialist. This person will take care of further treatment of the disease. However, remember that even if the cough has reduced, the cause of its occurrence has probably not disappeared. Therefore, every case of chronic cough should be talked with a doctor.
3.
Dyspnea is breathing difficulty or not having enough air. This sensation is typically associated with increased effort by the respiratory muscles. Stimulation of receptors in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, as well as in the respiratory muscles, can contribute to dyspnea. It can also arise from the simultaneous stimulation of multiple areas. Dyspnea is always linked to excessive or anomalous activation of the respiratory centers in the brainstem. The central respiratory centers are stimulated by stimuli conducted by many structures and neural pathways. The cerebral centers are also stimulated by stimuli from chemoreceptors located in the brain, carotid and aortic bodies, and other parts of the circulatory system, stimuli from higher cortical central centers, and most likely from afferent fibers of the phrenic nerves.
The method relies on the cause of the shortness of breath. For example, if you feel a strong feeling of shortness of breath in a crowded room, go outside and get some fresh air. If the shortness of breath is caused by severe hysteria and stress, first of all, calm down and turn your thoughts away from unnecessary emotions and breathe slowly.
Oxygen is considered a universal treatment for dyspnea and should be administered promptly alongside fresh air. Furthermore, positioning the patient to facilitate breathing can provide relief (it is best to avoid lying down). In cases of shortness of breath due to acute laryngitis, exposure to cold air can be beneficial. If symptoms do not improve, intramuscular or intravenous administration of adrenaline or glucocorticosteroids may be necessary. For those with chronic respiratory conditions, e.g., whooping cough, bronchodilators are typically prescribed.
4.
Wheezing can occur when inhaling and exhaling air, a condition referred to as mixed wheezing. The intensity of wheezing can vary. It may be audible only through a doctor’s earpiece or loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
Inspiratory wheezing (so-called stridor) occurs when the upper respiratory tract is narrowed at the level of the throat, larynx, or upper part of the trachea. Expiratory one (so-called wheezing) occurs when the lower sections of the respiratory tract are narrowed.
Wheezing is not specific to one disease. It can accompany conditions, ranging from common respiratory infections like whooping cough to chronic diseases such as asthma. If the cause of sudden wheezing is unknown, it is significant to see a doctor.
5.
Infections such as bronchitis or whooping cough can cause intense coughing fits that can lead to vomiting. In the case of infection, a dry cough leading to vomiting is often paroxysmal and exhausting. Coughing to the point of vomiting can also result from irritation of the throat and esophagus. A dry cough that causes vomiting is most often a symptom of tracheitis and bronchitis. They may be caused by infection with the pertussis bacterium, which causes an infectious disease.
Whooping cough was formerly called pertussis and is characterized by a strong, paroxysmal, chronic cough, accompanied by shortness of breath, inspiratory whistling referred to as “foamy” and vomiting at the end of the coughing attack.
Vomiting may also accompany coughing when it is associated with inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus (reflux). In such cases, drugs that lower stomach pH and inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid (proton pump inhibitors) should be included in the treatment. In respiratory tract infections, in which the cough is productive with expectoration of a large amount of sputum, patients may vomit previously swallowed secretions.
6.
Rhinitis is commonly referred to as a runny nose. It is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. It can have various causes, and whooping cough is one of them. The inside of the nasal cavity is lined with the so-called mucosa, or nasal mucosa, which moisturizes and cleanses the air inhaled through the nose of microorganisms (including bacteria and viruses) and impurities. Rhinitis is defined as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and in more severe cases also of the paranasal sinuses. Air spaces that perform a moisturizing and pressure equalization function during breathing, which are connected to the nasal cavity. Its characteristic symptoms are sneezing, blocked nose, runny nose (initially watery, in the later phase of the disease thick and making breathing through the nose difficult), drainage of secretions down the back wall of the throat, and itching in the nose and throat.
Rhinitis is a common condition. It can develop in anyone. It is related to the exposure of the nasal mucosa to various factors contained in the inhaled air. Symptoms of runny nose are commonly considered to be disease symptoms. However, to a large extent, they are a defensive reaction of the nasal mucosa. The nose is a structure that is particularly sensitive to all threatening factors, as it is richly innervated and supplied with blood, which promotes a series of reflex reactions.
Treatment of runny nose, e.g. in whooping cough, focuses primarily on limiting exposure to factors or situations responsible for causing symptoms. In the case of non-allergic runny nose, preparations that moisturize the mucosa and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful. Using sea salt solutions in a spray can also provide relief by alleviating symptoms and improving breathing.
7.
Although many people use the term fever casually to describe a body temperature that exceeds 36.6°C, it is officially defined as a temperature of 38°C or higher. Temperatures below this are considered a sub-febrile state.
Fever serves not only as a warning sign but primarily as a defensive mechanism of the body.
Usually, the fastest and most effective way to deal with fever is pharmacological agents and preparations. Those may be with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid. Overdosing on them can be dangerous, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Take the dose of the medication recommended in the leaflet. Moreover, check your temperature after an hour to see if it is effective. After another two hours, measure your temperature again and see if the downward trend continues. If not, take a second dose of the antipyretic.
8.
A subfebrile state is a slight increase in body temperature above normal. It is not a disease, but a symptom accompanying many diseases, disorders, and injuries, usually being evidence of the fact that the immune system has taken up the fight against a factor identified in the threat categories (various types of pathogens, presence of a foreign body in the body, injury, etc.).
In the direct mechanism of the development of a subfebrile state and fever, the key is the irritation of the thermoregulatory center in the brain, which occurs under the influence of various factors, collectively called pathogens, such as proteins of bacteria and viruses. Then the therm set point changes, which leads to expanded heat production in the body and prevents its loss. In terms of etiology, the most common causes of a subfebrile state are bacterial and viral infections such as whooping cough.
An increase in temperature means that the body is fighting the infection on its own, which is often the most effective and can shorten the duration of the infection. Pharmacological intervention to lower the temperature is recommended only after the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius.
9.
Phlegm in the throat, often described as an unpleasant sensation, occurs when mucus flows down the back of the throat. This situation frequently leads to attempts to cough up the phlegm, which may or may not be effective. Many people also experience morning hoarseness after waking up, as the expectoration of phlegm tends to be most intense at this time due to the lying position during sleep. Throat issues, such as the feeling of a lump in the throat, can result in changes to the voice, reduced vocal ability, or even complete loss of voice (aphonia). Affected individuals may have a hoarse voice and a lower tone and struggle with voice loss.
Phlegm with blood from the throat should always be an alarm signal – it may indicate a possible bacterial superinfection or accompany a viral infection but it is also a potential harbinger of other more serious diseases. Regardless of the amount of blood, each hemoptysis should be carefully diagnosed. Increased mucus production occurs in smokers – overproduction of mucus is the body’s defense mechanism against harmful cigarette compounds. It is also worth mentioning that chronically ill people who use inhaled steroids are more susceptible to such hoarseness.
A wet cough allows the expectoration of secretions from the respiratory tract and is a beneficial phenomenon. The thinner, less viscous the phlegm, the easier it is to expectorate. Drugs used in wet coughs thin the phlegm, and some of them also affect better mucociliary transport, which means that they stimulate the movements of the cilia present in the respiratory tract, which move the secretion more efficiently and facilitate its removal. These drugs are called mucolytics and come in various forms, usually in both syrups and tablets.
10.Sneezing is usually foregone by a tickling or itching sensation inside the nasal cavity, followed shortly afterward by a sudden release of air under pressure. We should not resist this reflex because it is created to support the organism to manage exterior factors, the existence of which inside the respiratory tract could make breathing challenging. Further, the enormous pressure developed to throw the “intruder” out can wreak havoc inside if it meets a closed passage.
Sneezing not accompanied by further signs is usually linked with a momentary mucous membrane irritation. The cause of such a one-time sneeze may be a difference in air temperature or humidity, an uncommon scent, or a speck of dust or pollen that has wandered into the nose. In such a case, sneezing is not linked with a runny nose, a feeling of a heavy head (related to secretions accumulating in the sinuses), or other manifestations characteristic of an illness (e.g., whooping cough) or allergy.
The runny nose and sneezing that occur with a cold or whipping cough are familiar. During sneezing, thick, usually yellowish discharge is released, which makes the nose seem to fill to the brim. Often, sneezing and runny nose are the first signs of illness – it is worth not ignoring them and stocking up on a quick-response drug containing mixed-dose ingredients that boost immunity. For a runny nose and sneezing, you can use one of the widely available preparations that thin the discharge, which makes it easier to breathe and expel substances to the outside. The standard medicinal product of this type is seawater in a spray, which moisturizes the mucous membrane, reducing the risk of sneezing resulting from dryness.
