The following are some common causes of an acute cough.
COVID-19
During the current pandemic, a person may be concerned that a dry cough is a symptom of COVID-19. This is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a dry cough
- a fever
- shortness of breath
Most people who contract SARS-CoV-2 will develop mild symptoms. However, some may develop severe and even life threatening symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source advise that people seek emergency medical treatment if they develop any of the following symptoms:
- difficulty breathing
- persistent pressure or pain in the chest
- confusion or an inability to arouse
- blue discoloration of the lips or face, or cyanosis
Upper respiratory tract infections
An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is a viral or bacterial infection of one or more of the following:
- the nose
- the sinuses
- the pharynx, which is the part of the throat that sits behind the mouth and nasal cavity
- the larynx, or voicebox
Some examples of URTIs include:
the common cold
- sinusitis
- tonsillitis
- pharyngitis
- laryngitis
A cough is a commonTrusted Source symptom of URTIs. Other common symptoms include:
- a sore throat
- headaches
- nasal congestion, or a runny nose
- sneezing
- pressure in and around the face
- low grade fever
- muscle aches
- Lower respiratory tract infections
Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) affect the large airways of the lungs. Some examples include bronchitis and pneumonia.
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchi, which are the main airways of the lungs. The primary symptom of bronchitis is a dry or productive cough. A productive cough may produce green, yellow, or blood tinged mucus.
Other symptoms include:
- a sore throat
- a sore chest
- wheezing
- headaches
- body aches
- fatigue
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. It typically causes a dry or productive cough.
Some other common symptoms of pneumonia include:
- rapid and shallow breathing
- shortness of breath, even when resting
- chest pain that worsens when breathing or coughing
- a rapid heartbeat
- fever and chills
- a loss of appetite
- Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which a persons immune system overreacts to something in the environment.
Common environmental allergy triggers, or allergens, include:
- pollen
- mold spores
- dust mites
- pet hair or dander
- cockroaches
People who have allergic rhinitis may experience a dry cough as a result of breathing in an allergen. Some other potential symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- itching in the eyes, nose, mouth, or throat
- swollen eyelids
- Inhaling irritants
A person may develop an acute cough after breathing in certain irritants from their environment. Examples of such irritants include:
- cigarette smoke
- diesel fumes
- perfumes
Inhaling irritants can cause symptoms similar to those of allergic rhinitis.
