The continuous rise in the number of coronavirus cases has made people feel worried about their well being. By now most of us are aware of the typical symptoms of the deadly disease.
Some of the most common symptoms are dry cough, fever, and shortness. In most of the case, about 80 per cent, people infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) get only these mild signs.
The COVID-19 start off closely resembles that of common flu or cold. The one thing that can help differentiate between a cold and coronavirus is a dry cough. But many are asking about dry cough and want to know how it is different from other coughs.
Coughing is a natural defensive phenomenon where it tries to expel out irritants like pollen, mucus, smoke, or allergen. But in case of dry cough, no mucus or phlegm is produced with it. As there is no mucus in dry cough, it is also referred to as a non-productive cough.
You can have a ticklish feeling in the back of your throat that can trigger a cough reflex. On the other hand, in a wet cough mucus expectorates or leaves the chest every time you cough.
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In some cases, wet cough is accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue or runny nose. The other difference between wet and dry cough is that they both sound different. While dry cough has consistent sound because no mucus builds and airway remains the same, in wet cough the airways change constantly.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, dry coughs can be a symptom of a variety of other illnesses – and not just COVID-19 – such as asthma, allergies, bronchitis, or a typical common cold.
But experts say that if dry cough is accompanied by any other symptoms related to COVID-19, like an unexplained loss of taste or smell, fever or gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, you should consult a doctor about testing for coronavirus. In the meantime, take some medicinal help to get some relief from untimely coughing.
