Difference Between Dry Cough And Wet Cough

Coughing is a reflex that clears mucus and irritants from your airway. Coughs are divided into two categories: productive and nonproductive.

Dry Cough:

A nonproductive cough, often known as a dry cough, generates no phlegm or mucous. A dry cough can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies and acid reflux. There may be no clear cause in some circumstances.

Wet Cough:

Any cough that produces mucus is classified as a wet cough, often known as a productive cough (phlegm). It may feel as if something is caught in the back of your throat or in your chest.Due to a wet cough there is a chance that mucus may enter your mouth.

A wet cough indicates that your body is producing more mucus than usual.

The reasons of a dry cough:

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) cause a range of coughs, including dry coughs, and are more popularly recognised as a cold. A dry cough can last up to four weeks in 25% of people.

Bronchitis is characterised by a dry cough, which is the most prevalent symptom. The cough may produce mucus after a few days.

Habitual decisions

• A dry cough might be caused by the following behaviours
• Tobacco use irritates the throat, resulting in a dry, persistent cough. Smokers who are heavier may get a wet cough that is worse in the morning
• Coughing as a habit: Although coughing as a habit is not a conscious lifestyle choice, some people develop a persistent dry cough for no obvious cause

Medical reasons

A dry cough can be a symptom of a variety of diseases.

• Asthma: Not everyone who has asthma will have a dry cough. Shortness of breath or wheezing are not typical signs of cough-variant asthma. Instead, the major symptom is a chronic, dry cough. This cough is more likely to occur after being exposed to irritants such as cold air or ambient smoke
• While heart failure is not the most prevalent cause of dry cough, it can cause fluid to back up into the lungs. A dry cough might result from lung congestion

The cause of a wet cough :

• Microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, such as those that cause the common cold or flu, induce wet coughs
• Mucus membranes line your whole respiratory system. Mucus serves a variety of purposes in the body, including keeping your airways moist and protecting your lungs from irritants
• When fighting an infection like the flu, however, your body produces more mucus than usual. This is done to help with the trapping and removal of bacteria that cause infection. Coughing assists in the elimination of excess mucus from your lungs and chest
• Other factors may cause your body to create more mucus than usual, resulting in a wet cough 

If you’ve had a wet cough for more than a few weeks, it could be the result of:

• Bronchitis. Bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes, which deliver air into the lungs, become inflamed. A variety of viruses are commonly responsible for acute bronchitis.Chronic bronchitis is a long-term illness that is  frequently brought on by smoking
• Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It’s a disorder that can range from moderate to life-threatening in severity
• COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a set of diseases that affect your lungs as well as the tubes that carry air into them. COPD is caused by smoking, which is the leading cause of the disease
• The condition cystic fibrosis affects the lungs. Cystic fibrosis is a respiratory disease caused by a genetic mutation that is usually discovered in early childhood. It causes the lungs and other organs to produce thick, sticky mucus. At the time of birth, all 50 states check newborns for cystic fibrosis
• Asthma. Although persons with asthma are more likely to have a dry cough, a tiny percentage of people with asthma create excessive mucus on a regular basis and develop a chronic wet cough

Differences between dry cough and wet cough:

Conclusion :

A cough, which can be wet or dry, is a frequent cold symptom. A dry cough is ineffective and produces no phlegm, whereas a wet, productive cough produces phlegm or mucus. Cold coughs are commonly treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but there are many different varieties with varying active ingredients to choose from, and the best selection is dependent on whether your cough is wet or dry.