Dry cough is a non-productive cough that persists even after clearing the airways. It is a condition in which the person experiences a dry, irritating cough that does not produce any mucus. Dry cough may be accompanied by sore throat and headache.

The dry cough can be due to an infection or due to some other causes like allergies, sinusitis and bronchitis.

The most common types of dry cough include:

Acute dry cough – This type of dry cough is usually caused by an illness such as colds or flu. It usually lasts for about two weeks before it goes away on its own.

Chronic dry cough – A chronic dry cough can last from three months to one year and occurs because of other conditions like asthma or bronchitis. It may be difficult to treat because it takes time to heal from these conditions.

Symptoms of a dry cough can include:

• Infections, such as colds or flu
• Allergies, such as hay fever
• Emotional stress
• Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure