Causes of a Wet Cough and How to Treat It

Causes of a wet cough

Wet coughs most often result from infections by microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. This includes the microorganisms that cause a cold or the flu.

Your entire respiratory system is lined with mucous membranes. Mucus performs many beneficial functions in your body, like keeping your airways moist and protecting your lungs from irritants.

When you have an infection like the flu, your body produces more mucus than usual. This helps trap and expel the organisms causing infection. Coughing helps you get rid of all the excess mucus that gets stuck in your lungs and chest.

There are other reasons why your body may produce more mucus than usual, causing you to develop a wet cough. These include:

• Bronchitis: Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the tubes that carry air into your lungs. Acute bronchitis is typically brought on by a variety of viruses. Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing condition, often caused by smoking.
• Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a lung infection that’s caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It’s a condition that ranges in severity from mild to life threatening.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD is a group of conditions that damage both your lungs and bronchial tubes. Smoking is the number one cause of COPD.
• Cystic fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition of the respiratory system. It usually develops in early childhood. It causes the production of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and other organs.
• Asthma: Although people with asthma are more likely to have a dry cough, a small subset of people produce ongoing excess mucus and experience a chronic wet cough.
• Pulmonary edema: Pulmonary edema is fluid buildup in the lungs. It’s usually caused by heart failure and is a very common cause of wet cough. If you have pulmonary edema, you may cough up pink, frothy phlegm.

Wet cough in a child

In children, coughs are caused by a viral infection most of the time. Asthma may also result in a cough.

All other causes of wet cough in children, such as the following, can include:

• Whooping cough: Whooping cough presents in violent attacks of uncontrollable coughing. Children make a “whoop” sound as they gasp for air.
• Inhalation: Cough in children is sometimes caused by inhaling a foreign body, cigarette smoke, or other environmental irritants.
• Pneumonia: Pneumonia can be dangerous in newborns and young children.

Diagnosing a wet cough

To diagnose your cough, your doctor will first need to know how long it’s been going on and how severe the symptoms are.

Your doctor may be able to diagnose the cause of a wet cough based on a physical examination and the symptoms you are experiencing.

If your cough is long lasting or severe, or you have other symptoms, a doctor may want to order additional tests.

Additional testing may include:

• chest X-rays
• lung function tests
• blood tests
• sputum analysis
• pulse oximetry test

How to treat a wet cough

Treatments for a wet cough depend on what’s causing it.

For the majority of wet coughs caused by a virus, such as a cold or the flu, medical treatment is not usually necessary. Bacterial causes require antibiotics.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help manage symptoms of a wet cough. However,

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that children younger than 2 years should not be given OTC cough and cold medications.

Speak with a pharmacist or doctor for recommendations on other remedies that may help, based on the cause of the cough and the age of the individual.

Dry cough vs. wet cough

A dry, hacking cough is a cough that doesn’t produce mucus. Dry coughs can be painful and difficult to manage. They happen when your respiratory system is inflamed or irritated but not producing excess mucus.

Dry coughs are common in the weeks following a respiratory infection. Once the excess mucus clears, a dry cough can linger for weeks or even months.

Other possible causes of dry cough include:

• asthma
• laryngitis
• sore throat
• croup
• tonsillitis
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• medications, particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• allergies
• exposure to irritants, such as dust, pollution, or smoke
• COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions

When to contact a doctor

Consult a doctor if your cough has been going on for more than 2 weeks.

Seek immediate medical treatment if you’re having trouble breathing or coughing up blood, or notice a bluish skin tone.

Mucus with a foul smell can also be a sign of a more serious infection.

Call the doctor immediately if a child:

• is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher
• is younger than 2 years and has a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher for more than 1 day
• is older than 2 years and has a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher for more than 3 days
• has a fever over 104ºF (40ºC)
• has wheezing without a history of asthma
• is crying and can’t be comforted
• is difficult to wake
• has a seizure
• has a fever and rash

The bottom line

Wet coughs are most often caused by infections. Some conditions that can cause a wet cough include bronchitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma.

Treatment for the cough will depend on the cause. Since most coughs are caused by viruses, they will go away on their own with time. Bacterial infections will usually require antibiotics.

Over-the-counter remedies may help, but not all are suitable for children. Speak with a pharmacist or doctor for advice before giving medication to a child.