Name: Eduard Reyjell Montaño

Section: BSN 3-F

CASE PRESENTATION

COUGH

Definitions:
- A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects
the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.

Causes and symptoms:

In the majority of cases, coughs are caused by respiratory infections, including:
● colds or influenza, the most common causes of coughs
● bronchitis, an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes
● croup, a viral inflammation of the larynx, windpipe, and bronchial passages that produces a bark-
like cough in children
● whooping cough, a bacterial infection accompanied by the high-pitched cough for which it is
named
● pneumonia, a potentially serious bacterial infection that produces discolored or bloody mucus
● tuberculosis, another serious bacterial infection that produces bloody sputum
● fungal infections, such as aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis

Coughing can also be brought on by pollutants in the environment, such as smog, dust, or
cigarette smoke. Smoke from cigarettes contains nicotine, which paralyzes the cilia, or hairs, that
normally flush mucus from the respiratory system.

Possible Medications:
- The condition causing the cough must typically be treated in order to treat the cough.
Antibiotics may be needed to treat an acute infection like pneumonia, bronchodilators
may be used to treat an asthma-induced cough, and an antihistamine may be given to treat
an allergy.

Nursing Management:
- Many medical professionals suggest drinking more fluids and inhaling warm, humidified
air to relieve chest congestion. Others advise drinking hot tea with honey as a short-term
home remedy for coughs brought on by the flu or a cold.