Wet Cough vs. Dry Cough: Understanding the Difference
Your cough can give you clues to figure out what’s making you sick. Here’s how to decipher it.
Depending on what kind of infection or condition you have, your cough may sound different sometimes. Doctors often refer to “wet coughs” and “dry coughs.” Wet coughs help signal that there is some sort of sinus leakage in the body. Dry coughs are usually due to inflammation within the throat itself.
References
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Mahashur, A. (2015). Chronic dry cough: Diagnostic and management approaches. Lung India: Official Organ of Indian Chest Society.
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Michaudet, C., et al. (2017). Chronic cough: Evaluation and management. American Family Physician.
Rouadi, P. W., et al. (2021). WAO-ARIA consensus on chronic cough - Part II: Phenotypes and mechanisms of abnormal cough presentation - Updates in COVID-19. The World Allergy Organization Journal.
