Coughing is the method your body uses to remove foreign material or mucus from your lungs and upper airway. A dry cough -- sometimes called an unproductive cough -- is one in which the coughing doesn't being up sputum, or mucus. A dry cough can result from an illness; sometimes it is merely a reaction to an inflamed or irritated airway. A dry cough is merely a symptom, not a disease in itself. Persistent coughs should be evaluated by your doctor.
Irritation of Airways
Often, a dry cough isn't a result of an illness but a response to conditions that inflame the airway, causing a bronchospasm. Dust and cigarette smoke in the air are notorious for provoking dry coughs. Inhaling something into your breathing tubes from your throat can also trigger a nonproductive cough, as can postnasal drip. ACE inhibitors -- used in treating high blood pressure -- can sometimes cause chronic cough. Asthma can also cause a nonproductive cough without wheezing; this is often a warning sign that asthma is worsening or improperly controlled.
Whooping Cough
You may experience a dry cough at the onset of whooping cough, a contagious bacterial respiratory tract infection. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, causes inflammation that narrows the breathing tubes in your lungs. According to MayoClinic.com, whooping cough is making a comeback, mostly among children too young to have completed the vaccination sequence or adults whose immunity has worn off. For the first week, you may experience a dry cough, along with runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and mild fever. The following week, severe coughing attacks begin, bringing up thick phlegm; some coughing bouts may be so intense that they cause vomiting, reddened or bluish face, and extreme fatigue. Coughs may end with an inhalation of breath that sounds like a whoop. Although adults usually recover completely, the disease can be dangerous in infants. MayoClinic.com advises calling your doctor if your coughing is so severe that you turn red or blue, vomit or inhale with a whooping sound.
Mycoplasma Pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a type of bacterial pneumonia that usually affects people under 40 and often features a dry cough. You may also experience chest pain, chills, sweating, fever, headache and sore throat. Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually diagnosed by X-ray and blood tests and is treated with antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing fever, fluids and rest. Most adults recover completely from mycoplasma pneumonia, according to Medline Plus, an online resource of the National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus advises calling your doctor if you have cough with fever and shortness of breath.
Influenza and Colds
Influenza -- or the flu -- is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system and can also cause a dry cough. Along with a nonproductive cough, you may experience a fever over 100 degrees, chills, sweats, headache, aching muscles and fatigue. Although most people recover from the flu within days, it can be serious in some cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that tens of thousands of people die from the flu each year. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication soon after your symptoms develop; this can decrease the intensity and duration of the illness. Flu is otherwise treated with bed rest, liquids and over-the-counter pain relievers. Young children, older adults, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and people with chronic illnesses should contact their doctor if they develop flu symptoms.
