Post viral cough

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Post-viral Cough is a lingering cough experienced following a viral respiratory tract infection usually a common cold or flu and lasting more than eight weeks. Post-viral cough is a clinically recognized condition represented within the European medical literature but is not mentioned in studies from America. Patients usually experience repeated episodes of post-viral cough. The heightened sensitivity in the respiratory tract is demonstrated by inhalation cough challenge.[1]

[edit] Cause

One possible cause for post-viral cough is that the receptors that are responsible for stimulating the cough during the respiratory tract infection are up-regulated by respiratory tract infection and continue to stimulate after the virus has disappeared,

[edit] Treatment

Post viral cough can be resistant to treatment. Inhaled steroids may work in some patients. Post-viral cough is usually treated the same way as a viral cough.

[edit] References