Dry or wet cough: how to choose the right treatment

Cough treatment depends on the type of cough. Using the wrong product can delay recovery, so the first step is to identify which cough you have.

Wet (productive) cough

A wet cough brings up phlegm. Its purpose is to clear the airways, so the goal is to make mucus thinner and easier to cough up, not to stop the cough.

• Lescuf syrup with ivy leaf extract helps loosen mucus and ease productive cough.
• Mucopront effervescent tablets combine N-acetylcysteine 600 mg to thin mucus with echinacea to support immunity.

Dry cough

A dry cough produces no phlegm and is often tickly and irritating, especially at night or with allergies. Here the goal is to calm the cough reflex.

• Sedolan combines dextromethorphan to suppress cough with chlorpheniramine to relieve allergy symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing.
• Sedolan Plus is a double-strength formula for adults with persistent dry cough. It may cause drowsiness.

Important: do not combine a cough suppressant with an expectorant, and follow the age and dose instructions on the leaflet.

Helpful home measures

• Drink plenty of warm fluids.
• Use a humidifier or steam.
• For congestion, a chest rub such as Fast VIX Strong, or Fast VIX Kids and Baby for children.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if the cough lasts more than three weeks, or comes with high fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, blood in the phlegm or weight loss.