Q: I have just got over a cold and I am still coughing several weeks later. This seems to happen every time I get a cold, which fortunately is not often. Maybe one a year. I have tried everything from cough mixtures and cough candies to antibiotics and nasal sprays. Nothing seems to make much difference.
A: When a person catches a cold, the virus causes the airways, sinuses and nasal passages to become inflamed, swollen and overly sensitive. The sneezing, runny and stuffy nose and sore throat may improve in just a few days, but often the cough persists for far longer. It can be for as long as a month or occasionally six weeks. This may lead the sufferer or their doctor to think that there may be a secondary infection such as bronchitis or sinusitis and prescribe antibiotics and/or nasal sprays and inhalers. Most often, it is simply the lingering effects of the cold virus itself, and this is why the medications may make no difference in your case.
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Try not to overuse over-the-counter nasal sprays. They should not be used for more than three consecutive days or there will be rebound withdrawal symptoms of nasal congestion and postnasal drip, which leads to coughing. Too much exposure to dry air or air conditioning may also irritate your nose and airways.
Dry air is commonest in winter months when colds are also more likely to occur.
In some instances there may be an underlying health problem such as asthma or bronchitis that is triggered by the cold, and this may require appropriate medical treatment.
Some people only get asthma attacks associated with a cold, and do not seem to have problems at any other time. A chronic cough is the main symptom. Not everyone with asthma wheezes. Lung function tests can help to determine if you have asthma.
There are some other illnesses that can cause a long-term cough. These include digestive disorders such as acid reflux and obstructive sleep apnoea. Some medications known as ACE inhibitors, such as Vasotec (Enalopril), used for treating high blood pressure will often have the side effect of giving the patient a chronic dry “ahem” type of cough.
Bacterial sinusitis may occur after a cold, as the sinus membranes are left in a vulnerable state by the cold viruses. There are generally other symptoms, which will help the doctor diagnose the condition, such as facial pain and sometimes fever. Antibiotics may be prescribed.
