A dry cough and fever are two symptoms that are often found together. Some conditions that can result in dry cough and fever symptoms include the flu, measles and pneumonia. Most causes of these symptoms can be treated with medication and home rest. They are sometimes symptoms of a potentially serious condition, however; if symptoms persist, a physician should be consulted.
A dry cough is an attempt by the body to clear the breathing passages of irritants, foreign particles, or microbes. The causes are related to any sort of intruding and offending object in the throat and upper airways. A fever is a defense mechanism developed by the body to fight viral and bacterial infection.
One of the more common conditions that presents with dry cough and fever symptoms is the flu. Influenza is a respiratory viral infection that often has symptoms including muscle aches, sore throat, dry cough and fever. There are several strains of influenza that doctors separate into "A," "B" and "C" strains, depending on their severity. A strains are the most severe, and usually cause serious widespread illness, and can even result in death in elderly patients, babies and those with suppressed immune systems.
Dry cough and fever also may be symptomatic of pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection that causes lung inflammation. The infection can be caused by bacteria, fungi or a virus.
All types of pneumonia may initially present with symptoms similar to influenza — muscle fatigue, fever, headache and a non-productive cough. More serious types of pneumonia may also include shortness of breath and rapid breathing symptoms. It is important to visit a doctor if suspected flu symptoms last more than a few days. Doctors can perform chest x-rays to determine if pneumonia is causing the symptoms or another respiratory illness so proper treatment can be administered.
Measles is a viral respiratory disease that affects the throat and lungs. It is rare in developed countries today due to modern vaccinations, but has not been eliminated. Also called rubeola, measles typically presents with such symptoms as a runny nose, dry cough and fever, and a full-body rash. It is transmitted through the air — a person with measles can spread it simply by coughing or sneezing. There is no cure for the disease, but it is important to consult a doctor for symptom treatment and to avoid other people or even be hospitalized until the virus has run its course.
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gimbell
Post 4 |
I have some bad seasonal allergies, and I commonly get a dry cough and headache when exposed to certain things, like very thick pollen in the air. I've never gotten a fever from my allergies, but the coughing and headaches are bad enough.
I find that one way to soothe a dry itchy throat and a persistent cough from allergies is to fold a piece of paper towel into quarters, wet it down under the faucet, and then press it over my mouth and breathe through it.
The moisture from the towel helps to soothe the itching and dry throat feelings that are making me cough, and the paper towel helps filter out the pollen that I would otherwise by breathing in. |
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ahain
Post 3 |
@popcorn - You're on the right track with the honey, there. I usually combine that and what you said about gargling with salt water: I gargle honey around, then swallow it afterward. It leaves a nice soothing honey coating on my throat to help with the dry itchiness and any coughing it makes me do.
Honey is a wonderful all natural antibacterial agent. If your sore throat is caused by a virus or bacterial infection, the honey should help not only to soothe the symptoms, but also to kill the virus or bacteria.
When I start coming down with a sore throat, i immediately gargle some honey and then swallow it. I do this for a few days, and I do it several times per day -- usually right after breakfast, so that I won't eat anything for awhile to make me swallow the honey coating in my throat, and then right before bed, which helps me fall asleep at night with an itchy throat condition.
Gargling honey makes dry cough type sore throats go away super fast -- for me, at least half the time it usually takes without using honey. Sometimes if I'm fast enough, the honey kills the virus or bacteria before it even gets a chance to give me much of a sore throat at all, and so I don't get very sick that time.
This is my home remedy for a sore throat with dry cough and no fever, though. If you have a fever, things usually are more serious. If the fever and sore throat don't go away within a couple of days, schedule a doctor's appointment -- better safe than sorry. |
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popcorn
Post 2 |
A dry couch can be one of the most uncomfortable symptoms as it often feels as if there is tickle in your throat that you just can't get to. Some remedies you can try at home to lesson the annoyance you feel with your cough are completely natural. If you have honey around, try to have some. Just swallow a tablespoon like you would cough syrup. You'll be amazed at how this can help. You should also try drinking warm water as cool drinks can irritate your throat even more. Lastly, if you throat feels raw, gargling with a salt and water mix can help ease the pain. |
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letshearit
Post 1 |
If you have a dry cough fever over 103 degrees and it refuses to come down you should always head straight to a doctor. Sometimes when you get influenza it can be very stubborn to treat and you may need special medication. Often a fever will abate if you take over the counter pills and have a cool bath, but if not it means that something is seriously wrong. If at any time your high fever causes dizziness or nausea, or your neck gets really sore, head to the emergency room. These symptoms can result in serious damage to your body.
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