Cough reflex

Introduction Cough is a kind of protective respiratory reflex in the human body. When the respiratory tract (oral, throat, trachea, bronchus) is stimulated (such as inflammation and foreign body), the nerve endings emit impulse to induce a physiology caused by the medullary cough center. Reflex, through the coughing action to discharge respiratory secretions or foreign bodies (such as sticky, bacteria, fiber) to keep the respiratory tract clean and smooth, so we can say that cough is a beneficial action, sometimes seen in healthy human body. Under normal circumstances, for mild and infrequent cough, as long as the sputum or foreign body is discharged, it can be naturally relieved without the use of antitussives.

Cause

Respiratory diseases: When the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx to the small bronchus are stimulated, they can cause cough, such as pharyngitis, tracheal-bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, allergic substances, and bacterial infections in the lungs.

Pleural disease: pleurisy, pleural mesothelioma, spontaneous pneumothorax, etc., for various reasons.

Cardiovascular disease: mitral stenosis or other causes of left heart failure caused by pulmonary congestion or pulmonary edema.

Central nervous factors: The impulse from the cerebral cortex is transmitted to the medullary cough center, such as encephalitis and meningitis.

an examination

Related inspection

Thoracic chest CT examination

1. Increased airway reactivity, mostly light-moderate increase. The test procedure can induce irritating coughs at similar onset.

2. Pulmonary function damage is between normal people and typical asthma.

3. The skin allergen test can be positive.

4. Increased serum IgE levels.

5. Some patients may be positive for bronchiectasis test. When a positive reaction occurs, it indicates that there is a certain degree of paralysis and obstruction in the airway.

6. Peripheral blood eosinophil count increased, serum ECP level increased.

Differential diagnosis

Because cough is a non-specific symptom of many diseases, it is necessary to ask for detailed history, comprehensive physical examination, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and some special examinations to eliminate chronic diseases and intractable cough. Other diseases. Chronic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux, bronchial asthma, and posterior nostril drip are the most common causes of chronic cough, and some patients with gastroesophageal reflux can coexist with bronchial asthma; in addition, chronic heart failure, esophageal hiatal hernia, allergic rhinitis, high Blood pressure, airway inflammation, tumors, tuberculosis, foreign body and smoke irritation, anxiety, etc. can lead to chronic cough.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.