| Common Name | dry cough |
| Scientific Name | |
| Disease Type | Symptom |
| Host Type | human |
| ICD Code | R05.0 |
| Distribution | Worldwide |
| Causative Agent | Viral upper respiratory infection; post-nasal drip; asthma; GERD; environmental irritants; ACE inhibitors |
| Transmission | Depends on underlying cause; often airborne droplet for infectious etiologies |
| Symptoms Description | Persistent non-productive cough without sputum or mucus; may be irritating, tickly, or hacking; can occur day or night; often worse at night or with irritant exposure |
| Diagnosis | Clinical history and physical examination; chest X-ray if persistent; spirometry for suspected asthma; allergy testing or pH monitoring as indicated |
| Conventional Treatment | Antitussives such as dextromethorphan; treat underlying cause (antihistamines for post-nasal drip, PPIs for GERD, inhalers for asthma); lozenges or honey for symptomatic relief |
| Herbal Treatment | Demulcent herbs: Althaea officinalis (marshmallow root), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice root), Verbascum thapsus (mullein); antitussive herbs: Prunus serotina (wild cherry bark), Thymus vulgaris (thyme); Ayurvedic: Sitopaladi churna; TCM: herbs that moisten Lung yin and stop cough such as Bai He (Lilium brownii) or Sang Ye (Morus alba leaf) |
| Prevention | Avoid respiratory irritants and allergens; manage underlying conditions (asthma, reflux); maintain humidity; hand hygiene to prevent viral infections |
| Prognosis | Excellent when underlying cause is addressed; most acute cases resolve within 3 weeks; chronic cough requires investigation of root cause |
| History | Recognized since antiquity; described in Hippocratic texts and TCM as Lung dryness or yin deficiency; wild cherry bark used by indigenous North American peoples for irritating coughs |
| Reference | Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press, 2003; Bone K, Mills S. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone, 2013; UpToDate: Chronic cough in adults |
| URL | https://forager.com/ENCY/Disease/view?common_name=Dry+Cough |
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