Q. What is dry cough?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
A dry cough is when you cough without producing any phlegm or mucus. It's often described as a tickling sensation in your throat that makes you want to cough to clear it, but nothing comes up. It can be caused by various things like allergies, irritants in the air, or viral infections like the common cold or flu. Unlike a productive cough where you cough up mucus, with a dry cough, your throat feels irritated and scratchy. It can be annoying and uncomfortable, but usually, it's nothing too serious and goes away on its own with time and some rest. If it persists for a long time or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's a good idea to see a doctor just to be safe.