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Cough Directory
Coughing is the body's way of removing foreign material or mucus from the lungs and upper airways or of reacting to an irritated airway. Coughs have distinctive traits you can learn to recognize. A cough is only a symptom, not a disease, and often the importance of your cough can be determined only when other symptoms are evaluated. Coughs often occur with bacterial and viral respiratory infections, but there are many other causes of cough. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about cough, causes, how to treat a cough, and much more.
Medical Reference
What’s the Treatment for Croup?
Croup is a condition that can affect young kids. If your child has a mild case, it can be treated at home. Learn how to treat the symptoms of croup and when you should call a doctor instead.
Flu Symptoms: How Do You Know When You Have It?
Which symptoms signal the flu - and when is it time to call the doctor?
Asthma in Children: Symptoms and Risk Factors
Learn more from WebMD about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of asthma in children.
When To See a Doctor for a Cold or Flu
Most colds and flu don't require a doctor's care. However, as WebMD explains, if you have any of these six symptoms, see your doctor.
Features
Natural Cold Remedies: What to Know
Some natural remedies may help you recover from the cold.
The Dangers of Whooping Cough
A guide to whooping cough, or pertussis: its symptoms, danger signs, prevention, and treatment.
How Moms Prevent Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Whooping cough is highly contagious. If one person has pertussis, up to 90% of people in the same house will get it. Here’s what careful moms do.
Cough Relief: How to Lose a Bad Cough
Cold and flu season brings on hacking coughs that can leave your chest aching. But allergies, asthma, acid reflux, dry air, smoking, and even some medications can also cause chronic cough. Try these five tips to manage your cough at home.
Video
Cough Medicine Abuse in Teens
There's a growing epidemic of teen abuse of over-the-counter cough medicine. It's dangerous, even deadly. Could your teen be in danger?
Myths & Facts about Snot and Mucus
Get the facts on mucus and snot, the different mucus colors and what they mean in this informative myth vs fact video.
How to Calm a Cough
How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
A step-by-step guide to make your own hand sanitizer when there’s a shortage.
Slideshows & Images
Cold & Flu Treatment: Medication and Home Remedies for Children Slideshow
WebMD offers helpful tips to safely choose and use over-the-counter medicines and other remedies to help you treat your child’s cold or flu.
Whooping Cough and Pertussis Slideshow from WebMD
Tips for Calming Your Cough
Can't stop coughing? See home cough remedies and other cough treatments. And find out when it's time to see a doctor for your cough.
Slideshow: Tips for Calming Your Cough
Blogs
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What Is a 'Silent Spreader'?
In the avalanche of new terminology related to coronavirus, you might be hearing about 'silent spreaders' - but what does that term really mean? ...
Coronavirus in Context: How Hospitals Will Prepare for Surge of COVID-19 Cases
WebMD's Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, speaks with the President of the Society of Critical Care Medicine