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Cough
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Cough: Home Care & Treatment
- Cough lozenges or hard candy can help dry, tickling coughs. These should never be given to a child under 3 years old because of the risk of choking.
- A vaporizer or steamy shower may help a dry cough by increasing the humidity in the air.
- Drink extra fluids to help thin the secretions in your throat and make them easier to cough up.
- Zinc lozenges may reduce the intensity of your cold symptoms, especially your cough.
Medications available without a prescription include:
- Guaifenesin (like Robitussin), which may help you bring up phlegm. Drink lots of fluids if taking this medication.
- Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan (Vicks 44, Robitussin DM) may lessen your cough. Although coughing can be a troubling symptom, it is usually your body's way of healing the underlying condition. Therefore, you may not want to supress the cough unless it is interfering with sleep or other factors important for healing.
- Decongestants, like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, can be used to clear a stuffy, runny nose accompanying your cough, especially if you have postnasal drip. These should not be used if you have high blood pressure or for a child under six years old unless prescribed by your doctor.
Don't expect a physician to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections like colds or flu. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Antibiotics also will not help coughs from allergies.
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Definition Cough: Common Causes Cough: Home Care & Treatment Cough: Prevention Call your Health Care Provider if What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
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Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
Acute Bronchitis Allergies Asthma Chronic Bronchitis Common Cold Croup Emphysema Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Heart Failure Pneumonia Sinusitis The Flu
Tests & Exams
Bronchoscopy Chest X-Ray Lung Gallium (Ga.) Scan Pulmonary Function Tests Routine Sputum Culture
Other Topics
Breathing Sounds - Abnormal (Stridor) Coughing Up Blood Fever Nasal Discharge Nausea and Vomiting
Review Date : 8/4/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Darrell N. Kotton, M.D., Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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