How to Differentiate Between Dry Cough and Wet Cough
Disease description:
I’ve been coughing nonstop for the past few days, so today I went to the pharmacy to buy some medication. The pharmacist asked whether my cough was dry or wet, but I couldn’t tell. I’d like to know how to distinguish between a dry cough and a wet cough.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Dry cough and wet cough can be differentiated based on sputum volume and associated symptoms. A dry cough typically produces no sputum or only a small amount, often accompanied by throat itching. It commonly occurs at night, primarily triggered by tracheal irritation or pressure. In contrast, a wet cough is characterized by abundant sputum production; patients usually feel phlegm in the throat before coughing, and the cough sounds deeper and more resonant.
