Severe cough that worsens as day progresses

[Qwerty85]

I've had an itchy cough for just over two weeks now, which has been steadily getting worse. It started at around midday with a bout of intense itchiness in my throat that made me cough to the point of retching. After a few minutes, the feeling dissappeared. However, that night my throat got slightly itchy again and the feeling has been getting stronger ever since.

I now have a sore throat and a slightly inflamed right tonsil as well as the itch. The itch starts off weak during the morning, when i cough about once every minute and progressively gets much worse towards the evening, when i end up coughing deeply every 10 seconds or so. I'm having extreme difficulty sleeping, and when i do, i always wake up a few hours afterwards. At first, it was a dry cough, but now i'm coughing up some mucus (which i can't cough out and has to be swallowed).

What's strange is that i havn't experienced any other symptoms of illness apart from those that i've described...

During the first week i tried taking both antihistamines and cough suppressants (dextromethorphan), but neither have had any effect. This is going to drive me crazy!!

[National Jewish]

There are so many reasons for an itchy throat and/or a sore throat leading to a cough.  It could be from a viral infection that has lingered, a sinus infection with postnasal drainage or even a new allergic exposure, such as molds in your room.  Your best bet, since this has persisted, is to have your doctor look into your throat and possibly even get a sinus CT scan.  Knowing the cause will lead to an effective treatment.

[Pakman]

Try a Saline nasal spray before you go to sleep.  See if that helps.  It seems to help me temporarily but the cough comes back.

[Inanga]

hi used to hane trouble with choking waking me up (every 15 mins was the worst night). i had a persistent cough caused by mucous. The mucous (post nasal drip) was caused by food allergies: wheat, gluten, soy (maybe dairy). Had other symptoms like upset indigestion.  Once I got these out of my diet I have recovered 100%.

Can you find the root couse of the mucous? Could it be an allergy to food, something in the air? Is it just a cold virus that will take it's course and clear up in a week or 2? Treating the symptoms might help but treating the cause is best.
I find a baking soda/salt nasal wash does wonders when I have congestion from a cold. good luck.

[littlevicko]

HAVE YOU BEEN CHECKED FOR ACID REFLUX(GERD)YOU WILL BE SUPRISED THATS THE SYSTOMS THAT GERD CAUSES,I DIDNT THINK SO UNTILL MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS A BAD COUGH WITH EXCESSIVE PHLEM FOR OVER 5 MONTHS-SHE ALSO HAD SINUS DISEASE ALSO WITH 100 PERCENT BLOCKAGE SO HOPE YOU FIND YOUR ANSWE AND GOOD LUCK-LITTLEVICK0