Cold & Flu Symptoms Is Your Cold Causing a Wet or Dry Cough? By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 26, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jason DelCollo, DO Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO Jason DelCollo, DO, is board-certified in family medicine and on the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Nonproductive Cough Productive Cough Other Causes Treatment When to Call a Healthcare Provider A cough is a common cold symptom, and it can be wet or dry. A dry cough is nonproductive and doesn't bring up phlegm, while a wet, productive cough is associated with phlegm or mucus. A cough from a cold is typically treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but there are many varieties to choose from with different active ingredients—and the best choice depends on whether your cough is wet or dry. This article explains the common causes of a wet or dry cough and describes the most common treatments for a cough. Ellen Lindner / Verywell Nonproductive Cough A nonproductive cough is one that does not bring up any mucus or other secretions. Also known as a dry cough, a nonproductive cough often is caused by irritation in the throat. Many people describe the irritation as a "tickling" or "scratchy" sensation. While a cold is a common cause of a dry cough, a nonproductive cough may also be caused by swelling of the airways, which often occurs with asthma or bronchitis. Allergies, the flu, coronavirus, or other upper respiratory infection may also trigger a dry cough. Some people develop a dry cough as a side effect of ACE inhibitors. a type of medication that's used to treat high blood pressure. 10 Ways to Get Rid of a Dry Cough Productive Cough A cough that brings up mucus or other fluid, including blood, is a productive cough. It is often referred to as a chesty or wet cough because you can often hear a gurgling sound during the cough. Most coughs caused by cold or flu will go away after a few days. But if a cough is productive, lasts more than a few weeks, and involves fever, greenish-yellow phlegm, and shortness of breath, it may be due to a lung infection. 2:29 How Pneumonia Occurs Pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis are among the other possible causes of a productive cough. GERD can also sometimes cause a chesty cough if there is severe inflammatory damage to the esophagus. And while COVID-19 is usually associated with a dry cough, it can sometimes cause a wet cough, especially if it leads to pneumonia. If you have a productive cough, your healthcare professional will want to know what the secretion looks like and how long you've had it. Do your best to take note of this information. Potential Causes of Excess Mucus Other Causes What you think is a cough from the common cold could be something more serious. If your cough persists, is severe, or rapidly worsens, talk to your healthcare professional, who may recommend a test for influenza or COVID-19. If you have a dry cough, your healthcare professional may perform tests to rule out other conditions including: Asthma: Can often be diagnosed with spirometry. During this test, you would breathe into a device to measure the force of your breath and the capacity of your lungs. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): While it's often associated with heartburn, 40 percent of people with GERD experience a dry cough. The condition can be diagnosed with endoscopy (a flexible scope is inserted into the esophagus and stomach) and an ambulatory pH acid test. Sleep apnea: Cough is a feature in up to 44 percent of cases of sleep apnea. This condition can be diagnosed with an in-lab sleep test or a home version that can measure blood gases, heart rate, and airflow/breathing patterns. Vocal cord dysfunction: An inhaled irritant or extreme exercise can cause abnormal narrowing of the larynx. You might be referred to an allergist, who can evaluate allergic causes or a combination of stress tests and imaging studies to detect breathing abnormalities during exercise. Less commonly, heart failure, a collapsed lung, or lung cancer can manifest with a persistent dry cough. If these are suspected, your healthcare provider may recommend imaging tests, such as chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other tests. If you have a wet cough, your healthcare provider may perform tests to diagnose the cause of a productive cough including: Chest X-ray Sputum analysis (in which coughed-up mucus or phlegm is evaluated in the lab for infection) Blood tests (to check for signs of infection) Pulmonary function tests (including spirometry and blood gases) Treatment Humidifiers and breathing in steam can often help provide you with relief. The treatment of cough depends on the underlying cause. If a nonproductive cough is caused by a cold, a cough suppressant containing dextromethorphan may be enough to provide control. Other treatments may include inhaled bronchodilators for asthma, antacids and proton-pump inhibitors for GERD, antihistamines for allergies, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing machines for sleep apnea. For a productive cough due to a cold, an expectorant can loosen and thin the mucus so that it's easier to cough up. Your doctor or pharmacist can point you in the direction of an OTC expectorant that's appropriate and safe for you. For a productive cough, a cough suppressant can make things worse since it impedes the excretion of mucus. In some cases, it can turn a minor illness into a more serious one, like pneumonia. Chronic productive coughs are more concerning and may require aggressive treatment of the underlying causes. Infections may require antibiotic therapy, while chronic disorders like COPD and cystic fibrosis may require ongoing care with oxygen therapy, inhaled or oral medications, and pulmonary rehabilitation. How to Choose the Best OTC Cough Medication for You When to Call a Healthcare Provider A cough accompanying a cold typically lasts a week or two and can be treated with over-the-counter medicine. Call your healthcare provider if: Your cough is severe.Your cough lasts more than three weeks.You cough up yellowish-green, pink, or bloody sputum.You have a fever of over 103 degrees F.You experience shortness of breath or a rapid heartbeat.You have had close contact with someone who has COVID or pneumonia before your cough started. If you are coughing up a lot of blood, a condition known as hemoptysis, call 911 or seek emergency care. Why You Cough Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Martin MJ, Harrison TW. Causes of chronic productive cough: an approach to management. Respir Med. 2015;109(9):1105-13. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2015.05.020 Mahashur A. Chronic dry cough: diagnostic and management approaches. Lung India. 2015;32(1):44-9. doi:10.4103/0970-2113.148450 Smith J, Woodcock A, Houghton L. New developments in reflux-associated cough. Lung. 2010;188(Suppl 1):S81-6. doi:10.1007/s00408-009-9210-2 Wang TY, Lo YL, Liu WT, et al. Chronic cough and obstructive sleep apnoea in a sleep laboratory-based pulmonary practice. Cough. 2013;9(1):24. doi:10.1186/1745-9974-9-24 Kenn K, Balkissoon R. Vocal cord dysfunction: what do we know?. Eur Respir J. 2011;37(1):194-200. doi:10.1183/09031936.00192809 De Blasio F, Virchow JC, Polverino M, et al. Cough management: a practical approach. Cough. 2011;7(1):7. doi:10.1186/1745-9974-7-7