Coronavirus: How to tell the difference between a dry cough and a wet cough - Times of India

Coronavirus: How to tell the difference between a dry cough and a wet cough - Times of India

Coronavirus: How to tell the difference between a dry cough and a wet cough - Times of India

Posted: 01 Apr 2020 09:16 PM PDT

With rising cases reported across the country and millions urged to practice social distancing, novel coronavirus has made people feel worried for all the right reasons.
Symptoms of COVID-19 start off mildly, resembling that of a cold or the flu. However, one symptom which can actually help you differentiate whether it's just a cold or coronavirus is the presence of a dry cough. Yes, the difference comes down to what type of cough you might have.

How can you recognise a dry cough and how is it different from a wet cough?
Coughing is body's natural defensive action to expel out any irritants such as mucus, pollen, smoke or allergen.

Almost 60% of COVID-19 positive cases report dry cough as a prominent symptom. With such statistics, it can be natural for people to worry as soon as they start coughing. However, there are fine differences between the two.

According to Dr. Jayalakshmi TK, Consultant, Pulmonology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, a dry cough is a cough that doesn't bring up mucus and hence, referred to as non-productive cough. It may feel like a tickle in the back of your throat triggering a cough reflex, causing hacking coughs. Compared to this, a wet cough typically pushes mucus out of your respiratory system, including the nose or the throat.

"A wet cough sounds wet because your body is literally pushing mucus out and people may feel like there's something stuck at the back of the throat. In some cases, they are also accompanied by other symptoms like a runny nose, postnasal drip or fatigue." adds the doctor.

Dr Ravindra Nallagonda, Senior Consultant Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Aster Prime Hospital also adds that in many cases, a wet cough might be accompanied by the production of pus (sputum) or blood, whereas a dry cough is a characterized by zero phlegm production.

Dry coughs occur because there's inflammation or irritation in your respiratory tract. Usually, the throat and lungs can become inflamed from a bacterial or viral infection, physical strain or environmental conditions. Dry and wet cough also differ in the intensity of the pain and noise. A dry cough produces a 'sound' of sorts. People may feel or experience a sense of tickle or hoarseness in the back of their throat which can also trigger the cough reflex.

Dr Meenakshi Jain, MBBS MD Internal Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj and Noida says, "Unlike a wet cough, a dry cough usually lingers on for several weeks after a cold or flu has passed, and in many cases, it can be often difficult to control and present in long fits, in both children as well as adults."

It is also worth noting that while a dry cough has been ruled as the primary symptom of coronavirus infection, it can often be a result of allergies, sinusitis, asthma, tonsilitis or prominent exposure to irritants such as dust or smoke.

Coronavirus scare: When should you worry?

If you are suffering from a dry cough and suspect a growing coronavirus infection, you should be on the lookout for other symptoms like lasting high fever, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath and gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea.

In the meanwhile, what you can also do is take medicinal help to relieve untimely coughing. A dry cough gets better with steam, humidifiers, lozenges and cough suppressants, used for a regular while.


There are also natural remedies available to treat and relieve dry cough. Gargling with salt water, having honey and ginger together can help.
In case of persistent cough, what you can also do is make use of an elevated pillow while sleeping, which can help lessen and subside the irritation.
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