Allergic cough: What is it?
The first thing you should know: An allergy is defined as an inappropriate and exaggerated response by the immune system the body’s defense system to an allergen.
All allergies work on the same principle: upon first contact with an allergen (grass pollen, cat hair, dust mites, and mold are the most common allergens), the immune system (incorrectly) recognizes it as potentially harmful to health and begins to produce specific antibodies.
This sensitization phase is called ‘silent’ because it does not cause any symptoms: you could say that the immune system is preparing for war.
Subsequently, any contact with the allergen can lead to an allergic reaction with inflammatory symptoms:
- Allergic rhinitis
- Allergic conjunctivitis,
- Itching in the nose, throat, sometimes in the ears
- Coughing
- Sore throat,
- Hoarse voice
- Allergic asthma.
All respiratory allergies to dust mites, house dust, animal hair, mold, pollen from grasses, trees, or herbaceous plants can cause coughing.
Allergic coughing can be laryngeal (caused by irritation of the laryngeal tissue) or bronchial (the irritation is deeper and reaches the bronchi).
Furthermore, coughing is not necessarily allergic in origin—it can also be infectious or caused by medication.
Allergic cough: How can you recognize it?
Allergic cough is easy to recognize:
- It occurs under certain circumstances and returns regularly, for example every year in spring. It can only occur if you sleep in a bed with a high concentration of dust mites (feather pillows or duvets), if you visit a friend who has a cat (cat hair is actually an inhalable allergen), or if you go for walks in the countryside in summer (pollen season). It lasts for several weeks or months.
- It is rather dry and occurs in attacks that “scratch” the throat, but can also become mucous in the case of a superinfection. It is accompanied by other allergic symptoms: itching and/or a runny nose, sneezing, red and/or watery eyes (allergic rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis).
Good to know. Coughing can also be a sign of asthma, an inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes that is associated with allergies in about 70% of cases (especially in children). Asthmatic children may experience very severe coughing fits that can lead to vomiting, especially at night.
Allergic cough: What treatment methods are available?
First of all, it is advisable to have an allergy test carried out by an allergist.
This will identify the allergens and allow measures to be taken to alleviate the allergy symptoms, including the allergic cough: changing bed linen, taking precautions during the pollen season, banning pets indoors.
The treatment of allergic cough is based on taking antihistamines (prescribed by the allergist).
If the allergic cough is associated with asthma, the main treatment consists of a combination of inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. If necessary, allergic desensitization may be considered.
Allergic cough: 3 natural remedies you should try.
These natural remedies are by no means a substitute for medical treatment. Consult your doctor or allergist for advice.
Homeopathy. For allergic coughs, homeopathy recommends taking Lung Histamine 7 CH, 5 globules 3 times a day until improvement is seen: this homeopathic remedy is specifically indicated for allergies (asthma or allergic rhinitis).
Hemotherapy. Blackcurrant buds (Ribes Nigrum) have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties: in hemotherapy, they are used in particular to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever). They are taken in a dosage of 10 drops from the onset of the allergic cough.
Aromatherapy. The essential oil of Provençal cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) has anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties thanks to the terpenes it contains and is indicated for dry coughs of allergic origin: it soothes irritated tissues and, as an antiseptic, prevents superinfections. From the age of 5, take 1 drop in 1 teaspoon of honey 3-4 times a day. This essential oil is prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding; asthmatics and epileptics must obtain their doctor’s approval.