Self-defined in these pages as a “manual hypochondriac”, it is not unusual for the radio host Jordi Basté to be restless on air due to an annoying and constant bout of coughing. It is exceptional, however, that a significant part of his team manifests the same symptoms, as does a fraction of the audience. These are cases of irritative cough, which are quite abundant at this time of year and are reaching medical consultations. The causes can be many, according to specialists, and the persistence of coughing fits can lead to severe discomfort.
According to the Department of Health, the proliferation of cough outbreaks is not exceptional at this time of the year, when there is a strong circulation of allergens – especially parietaria –, the sequelae of typical winter viruses. and, this season, an accelerated increase in whooping cough cases. Jordi Mestres, member of the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine, also mentions the climate factor: the lack of rain can contribute to burdening the atmosphere, or the latest episode of Saharan dust.
“We are seeing cases in consultations, as always except during the covid years, but at the moment it is not something to be alarmed about”, says Mestres. Some clinical guidelines indicate that eight weeks should pass before going to the doctor to treat an irritative cough in the absence of other symptoms. This doctor understands that you don’t need to wait that long, that you should go to the health center after two or three weeks even if there are no alarm symptoms such as a feeling of suffocation, fever, expectoration of blood or loss of weight
After all, continued coughing irritates the mucous membrane of the pharynx and trachea, and the problem is prolonged, although it often disappears spontaneously after about three weeks. It affects both children and adults, it is a very annoying condition and makes it difficult for the patient to rest well. “If there are no other symptoms, a lot of patience and common sense, prescription Mestres: “It is necessary to take comfort measures to soften the neck, such as making decongestant puffs, taking infusions that are not excessively hot because excess temperature can contribute to irritation, humidify the atmosphere, hydrate or sleep on your side to rest better”.
In some cases, codeine syrups, subject to medical prescription, are recommended to reduce attacks of irritating cough. Since they can have contraindications and side effects, it is important not to self-medicate, experts warn.
Coughing is a defense mechanism of the body to clean the trachea and larynx of particles. It is a symptom, explains Mestres, and “it can have, not tens, but hundreds of causes”. Respiratory viruses, flu, whooping cough, sinusitis, allergy… Faced with this multiplicity, it is necessary to personalize the diagnosis, says the doctor. For example, if whooping cough is suspected, it is diagnosed using PCR. In the first three months of the year, 7,230 cases of whooping cough were detected in Catalonia, but only 60% were microbiologically confirmed.
Botanist Jordina Belmonte, who does not have allergies, points to the flowering of certain trees as the cause of her hacking cough problems. You don’t have to be allergic to be affected. “I found myself this time recording informative videos in places where there are cockroaches and my voice can’t come out, with neck problems. This irritation can cause a lot of coughing, a strong cough that feels like you have to choke”, he says.
According to Belmonte, professor at the UAB and coordinator of the Aerobiological Network of Catalonia, for a few weeks now the fruits of the bananas – abundant trees in the city of Barcelona – have been falling and disintegrating. The wind lifts the soil particles and scatters them. Depending on the amount of fruit they have produced, the problems they cause will be more serious or milder. To avoid them, Belmonte suggests cleaning the streets well or pruning the trees before the fruits fall.
It’s also the time when chickadees scatter their tiny seeds and characteristic white fluff, which causes respiratory discomfort in people who don’t have allergies. “If I had to be in a place with a lot of bananas or poplars, I would put a physical barrier: a mask, a scarf to protect the respiratory tract. When you’ve already got irritation, a balsamic candy always helps to not have so much cough”.
