Cough still lingering? This is how long it will take you to recover


 

A cough is a natural reflex that your body does to clear your airways of irritants such as dust, mucus, and germs. It’s a common symptom of a variety of illnesses and how long it lasts depends on the cause and other underlying health conditions.

Coughs are often referred to as either a productive cough – a cough with mucus/phlegm – or a nonproductive cough or dry cough. They are further defined as an:

• acute cough, lasting less than 3 weeks

• sub-acute cough, lasting 4 – 8 weeks

• chronic cough, lasting more than 8 weeks

 

Here’s a general guide on how long you may take to recover from a cough from common illnesses that cause cough:

 

Condition Average recovery time
Common cold 7 – 14 days; cough lasting 2 weeks or more
Flu 3 – 7 days; cough lasting 2 weeks or more
Bronchitis 3 weeks; cough lasting up to three months (chronic bronchitis)
Pneumonia A month on average but it depends on the severity of the illness; cough lasting up to 6 weeks
COVID-19 Weeks or months after initial infection
Whooping cough 1 to 2 weeks (symptoms), followed by up to 3 months of severe coughing, and a few more weeks of recovery (gradual clearing of symptoms)
Croup 3 -7 days
Allergies The length of time will vary according to the allergen, e.g. pollen season.

 

 

If your cough lingers, here are a few self-care tips to soothe and ease the irritation in your throat and airways as you recover:

  • Drinking plenty of fluids: water and warm liquids such as teas and broths.
  • Breathe in moisture: stand in a steamy shower or use a humidifier to add extra moisture to your environment.
  • Add honey to warm beverages.
  • Stay away from irritants such as smoke, dust, and fumes.
  • Suck on cough drops, throat lozenges or a hard sweet.
  • Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications, if necessary.

 

 

If your symptoms persist or you have other accompanying symptoms, visit your doctor. Read more on When is chest congestion serious?


References

    1. Nemours Kids Health. (2023). Whooping Cough (Pertussis). Nemours Kids Health [Online]. Accessed on 4 August 2023. Available from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/whooping-cough.html#:~:text=Whooping%20cough%20usually%20causes%20cold,period%20can%20last%20for%20months.
    2. Seladi-Schullman, J. (2022). How Long Does a Cough Typically Last?. Healthline [Online]. Accessed on 4 August 2023. Available from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-a-cough-last

Disclaimer

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