Why do colds/flu/bugs seem to end with an annoying cough that lasts for ages?

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Why do colds/flu/bugs seem to end with an annoying cough that lasts for ages?

In: Biology

16 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

When you’re ill, your body makes mucus to clear the cell lining of bacteria and viruses. Once it does its job and that harmful bacteria/virus is gone, your body no longer needs the excess mucus. Coughing is the most efficient way of getting it out.

Anonymous 0 Comments

A lingering cough is usually just a side-effect from your body recovering from the sickness. This is caused by irritated airways or leftover mucus.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Last spring I had a cough that lasted 6 weeks after a viral sickness, it was a dry cough and the Dr said it could last up to 3 months. He prescribed a medication to numb the lung/airways because the cough was irritating the lungs causing me to continue coughing… self perpetual loop. One week on the prescription and I was perfectly fine.

Medicine was Benzonatate Cap 100MG

Anonymous 0 Comments

This is partially due to the fact the airways are still irritated from the effects of the illness, and partially because the flu weakens the immune system and allows additional infections.

It is, in fact, relatively common for more vulnerable people to develop bronchitis or pneumonia after a flu. This is why almost every source you ask about flu symptoms will tell you to see a doctor if your cough lasts too long, or if your fever disappears for a day or two and then comes back.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Coughing is meant to clear your airways. You produce excess mucus when you’re sick, and it lingers after you defeat the big. So your cough lingers to help clear that excess mucus. It’s quite efficient actually!

Anonymous 0 Comments

Everybody’s answering relating to productive coughs (dispelling the leftover mucus, basically). What about the dry coughs? The coughs that start with a “tickle” in the throat and doesn’t cough up any sort of mucus?

Anonymous 0 Comments

My cold was four weeks ago and I’m still coughing up 6 loogies a day – when will it end?!?!

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because we are all delicate little meat sacks.

But in all seriousness I blame mucous and post nasal drip. It’s a barrier, so our body goes crazy building walls to protect us because it knows we are already weak from whatever virus/bacteria made us sick and that mucous hangs around and makes our throats irritated or our lungs weak and heavy.

Our bodies may also have picked up something else while we were weak with the first thing. Or it was so busy with killing the primary illness that it’s slow to clear up the lingering inflammation.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The dry cough that would not stop happened to my daughter. We tried everything. A pulmonologist, MD, who is a chronic cough researcher cured her instantly. It has been written about in medical journals many times. NAD Just a dad. It cures children and adults. (Peer reviewed and published.) Good luck.

[https://www.thedailybeast.com/miles-weinberger-the-doctor-behind-the-miraculous-habit-cough-cure](https://www.thedailybeast.com/miles-weinberger-the-doctor-behind-the-miraculous-habit-cough-cure)

Anonymous 0 Comments

Possibly unrelated question: if a vaccine for the Coronavirus is develop, could this lead to the cure for the “common cold”?