Dry cough cases rise in Kerala: Renowned pulmonologists explain dos and don'ts

A dry cough that lasts for weeks has been troubling Kerala for the past few weeks, and hospitals are filled with patients complaining of fever and cough. This is the kind that creates a tickly feeling within the throat and is tough to stop once you start coughing. It can cause extreme fatigue, chest tightness, and, at times, fever. It does not produce mucus or phlegm and is often termed an 'unproductive cough.' What causes it? Dr A Fathahudeen, Consultant Pulmonologist, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and Dr Rennis Davis, Vice Principal, Professor, HOD Pulmonary Medicine, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, provide details. 

What causes the cough?
Respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and metapneumovirus are the main ‘culprits’ behind the dry cough. If not treated promptly, this could progress to pneumonia or bronchial asthma. More than 2.66 lakh influenza cases have been reported across the state to date. According to data released by the health department, approximately 6,500 patients seek treatment for influenza and cold at hospitals daily. Most of them also report a dry cough that persists for weeks. However, the exact cause of this prolonged cough has not yet been identified. 

What should patients do?
Seek immediate anti-viral treatment as soon as you get a fever or a cold. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, pneumonia due to viral infections has become more severe. The patient should rely on X-ray and pulmonary function test if the cough gets severe. It is better to consult a pulmonologist if the cough persists for three weeks. 

What not to do?
Taking medications without a prescription or consulting a physician only after the condition worsens can lead to secondary infections. Buying over-the-counter cough syrup will only do more harm than good.