Have you ever had a cough that won’t go away? Read on to learn how to get relief from the troubling cough.

The cough is a nagging symptom, especially in the post-COVID era. It does not respond to the usual cough syrups and medications. A persistent cough may affect your ability to work, reduce your productivity, and disrupt your sleep. Twenty per cent of the daily number of patients visiting Home of Homeo complain of post-infectious cough.

Usually, the symptoms of a cough and cold subside within 7 to 10 days, but for one in four adults, the cough can linger for up to 3 weeks after the infection resolves. It begins with a fever, body ache and a runny nose. However, all these symptoms subside within a few days, except for the cough. This type of cough is known as a post-infectious cough.

What is Post-Infectious Cough, and why does it occur?

A cough is a protective mechanism by which our body clears irritants from our airways, such as viruses, bacteria, dust, and fumes. When you get infected with a virus or bacteria, the immune system of your body causes an inflammation in the airways in response to those irritants. This inflammation is a protective mechanism which causes some swelling and produces fluids. In post-infectious cough cases, this inflammation persists even after the virus or bacteria have been eliminated, resulting in a persistent cough.

Additionally, if the upper airways remain inflamed, the fluid produced drips down from the back of the throat, a condition known as postnasal drip. This irritates your throat and adds to the existing cough. The condition worsens significantly when you lie down on your back.

Sometimes a pre-existing condition, such as asthma, is triggered by a recent infection.

When should I get it checked out?

If your cough is associated with the following signs and symptoms, a bigger issue might be looming, including:

Cough with fever, chills, and body aches
When you cough up blood
Changes in the pattern of cough
Difficulty breathing
Unusual and unexplained weight loss
History of any heart or lung diseases.

Homoeopathy and Post-Infectious Cough

Homoeopathy can be highly useful in managing post-infectious cough. The medicines are selected based on individual symptoms, cough type, sputum/expectoration characteristics, cough stage, and factors that help alleviate the cough. It is advisable to consult a Homoeopathic physician for the treatment of this cough. Homoeopathic remedies such as Aconitum Napellus, Gelsemium Sempervirens, Spongia Tosta, Arsenicum Album, and Phosphorus are highly effective in treating patients.