Cough: Signs and symptoms
![Women coughing](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/respiratory-health/conditions/ls-theraflu-woman-coughing-970px.jpg?auto=format)
Recognising coughs
Coughs can significantly impact daily life,1 and can be a common symptom of colds and flu, making it useful to understand how to recognise the type of cough.2,3
![Wet cough and dry cough icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/respiratory-health/conditions/dry-cough-wet-cough-970px.jpg?auto=format)
Signs and symptoms
Dry coughs involve coughing attacks that can cause considerable discomfort and pain. They can be characterised by:
- No or little mucus
- More frequent cough episodes
- Difficulty in stopping the attack
- A sore, tickly, burning sensation in the throat
- Usually occurring at night
Wet coughs are a useful defensive mechanism, characterised by:
- The presence of mucus
- Associated with the sensation of mucus stuck in the chest
- The useful loosening of mucus from the chest with cough
- Intentional, predictable episodes of cough
- Less frequent and shorter cough episodes4
Understanding cough
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![Management icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/icons/GSK_GEP_Management_Icon.png?auto=format)
![Cough icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/icons/ig-conditions-cough-750x421.png?auto=format)
![Patient care resources icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/icons/GSK_GEP_Patient_Resources_Icon.png?auto=format)
Patient care resources
Access a leaflet for your patients, which can help them understand the causes of coughs and how best to treat them.
![Panadol logo](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/respiratory-health/panadol/products/icon_global_Panadol_Icon_jpeg_750px.jpg?auto=format)
The Panadol Cold & Flu range
Find out how the Panadol Cold & Flu range can help your patients.
![Book icon](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_SA/icons/GSK_GEP_Educate_Icon.png?auto=format)