What is a violent cough?

A paroxysmal cough is the term used to describe intermittent attacks of uncontrollable, violent coughing that can feel exhausting and painful. Some people may vomit during or after a coughing episode.

What does violent coughing mean?

Overview: A paroxysmal cough is violent and uncontrolled coughing that is exhausting and painful. You may struggle to breathe and may even vomit. Pertussis or whooping cough is the most common cause of a paroxysmal cough. Other causes include: asthma.

How do I know if my cough is serious?

However, if the cough is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, drowsiness or shortness of breath it should be brought to a doctor's attention. Coughs that make certain sounds, like whooping, wheezing or barking, may also signal a bigger problem.

How do you describe a violent cough?

Fits of coughing are called paroxysmal coughing, and they are usually uncontrollable, violent, and painful. Whooping cough falls into this category, but asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and pneumonia can also cause paroxysmal coughing.

What kind of cough is alarming?

Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.

Why Do We Cough?

What does pneumonia cough sound like?

It might sound deeper or louder than other coughs and may or may not produce either green, yellow, or bloody mucus. Whether you suspect your cough is due to pneumonia or not, if you are experiencing a severe cough, you should talk to a healthcare provider to figure out the best treatment for you.

What is a bronchitis cough like?

The main symptom of bronchitis is a hacking cough. It is likely that your cough will bring up thick yellow-grey mucus (phlegm), although this does not always happen. Other symptoms of bronchitis are similar to those of other infections, such as the common cold or sinusitis, and may include: sore throat.

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing fits?

What virus causes violent coughing?

The most common type of paroxysmal cough is pertussis (also known as whooping cough), a bacterial infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria that produces violent coughing fits.

Can violent coughing cause damage?

At times, coughing can be very forceful. Prolonged, vigorous coughing can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing. It is also exhausting and can cause sleeplessness, dizziness or fainting, headaches, urinary incontinence, vomiting, and even broken ribs.

When does a cough need antibiotics?

Antibiotics aren't recommended for many chest infections, because they only work if the infection is caused by bacteria, rather than a virus. Your GP will usually only prescribe antibiotics if they think you have pneumonia, or you're at risk of complications such as fluid building up around the lungs (pleurisy).

When is a cough bad enough to go to the hospital?

Seek ER treatment if the cough or sore throat is accompanied by: Difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath. High fever.

How long should you wait to go to the doctor for a cough?

See a GP if: you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)

How do I know if my cough is viral or bacterial?

In addition to lab tests, sputum or mucus from a cough can be visually examined to determine whether bronchitis is viral, bacterial, or both. Clear or white mucus often indicates a viral infection, while yellow or green mucus may suggest a bacterial infection.

What illness has the worst cough?

However, teens and adults can have serious cases of whooping cough. Teens and adults, especially those who did not get whooping cough vaccines, may have lengthy coughing fits that keep them up at night. Those who get these coughing fits say it's the worst cough of their lives.

What happens if you cough too much?

A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children. A chronic cough is more than just an annoyance. A chronic cough can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Severe cases of chronic cough can cause vomiting, lightheadedness and even rib fractures.

Why won't my tickly cough go away?

Most tickly coughs don't require medical attention and will usually clear up on their own within three to four weeks. However, take care and seek the help of a pharmacist or your GP if your cough persists for longer than this or gets worse, as asthma, heartburn or heart failure can be indicated by a tickly cough.

When is a cough a chest infection?

The main symptoms of a chest infection can include: a persistent cough. coughing up yellow or green phlegm (thick mucus), or coughing up blood. breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing.

Does spitting out phlegm help you get better?

Coughing is one way the body gets rid of infection, but when it comes to spitting and swallowing phlegm, neither method will likely help a person recover quicker.

How do you know when a cough turns into pneumonia?

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus. Fever, sweating and shaking chills. Shortness of breath. Rapid, shallow breathing.

What does a COPD cough sound like?

According to one 2021 study, crackling sounds are common in COPD. There are two distinct types of crackling sounds detectable in the lungs: coarse and fine. Coarse crackles are more typical of COPD and present as prolonged, low pitched sounds. Fine crackles are more high pitched.

What does a cardiac cough sound like?

What does a congestive heart failure cough sound like? A cough due to congestive heart fluid often sounds “wet.” Healthcare professionals describe a wet cough as one that produces rales, or crackles, when they listen to it with a stethoscope. Crackles sound like rattling or popping.