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Attacks of dry and wet cough to vomiting: causes, diagnosis

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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A painful condition in which coughing leads to vomiting is known to many. Let's consider the causes of this symptom, diagnostic methods, its treatment and prevention.

Many people mistakenly perceive coughing as a disease. In fact, it is a protective reflex of the body to a certain pathogen - a virus, harmful microorganisms, foreign objects entering the lungs and respiratory tract.

According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision ICD-10, cough is included in class XVIII:

R00-R99 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.

  • R00-R09 Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems.
    • R05 Cough.

An unpleasant condition is one of the most common manifestations of various diseases, and not only colds. Very often this symptom is not given the necessary attention, which is why the disease that provoked it becomes chronic, causing various complications.

There are several types of cough that can cause vomiting:

  • Dry - attacks without sputum and expectoration. Most often occurs in the first days of ARVI, as well as with tracheitis, laryngitis, pleurisy. May indicate irritation of the cough centers by foreign objects. Occurs with heart defects, CNS diseases and other pathologies.
  • Wet - occurs with the discharge of sputum. Occurs only in diseases of the respiratory system. The nature of the disease can be judged by the characteristics of the discharged sputum.

The defect is classified according to the frequency of occurrence:

  • Constant - such attacks do not allow you to breathe normally. This condition is dangerous not only because of vomiting, but also because of the risk of respiratory arrest and fainting.
  • Paroxysmal – most often observed with such an acute infectious disease as whooping cough.
  • Periodic - isolated attacks, without convulsions, vomiting or seizures.

Cough can be acute - lasts less than three months. Most often appears after acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and other viral diseases. And chronic - lasts more than three months and indicates a long-term pathological course of lung diseases. It also occurs with tumor lesions of the body, heart defects and central nervous system. In any case, the presence of vomiting indicates complications that require medical intervention.

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Causes coughing to vomiting

As a rule, the occurrence of coughing fits is associated with colds. The causes of coughing to vomiting largely depend on the severity of the disease and the characteristics of its course. Such a disorder can be provoked by the following pathologies:

  • Influenza diseases, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections are accompanied by a dry, irritating cough. At the first stage, sputum does not come off. Gradually, the cough becomes wet, purulent contents may come off and chest pain may appear. There is an elevated temperature, lethargy, intoxication of the body, migraine attacks and, of course, vomiting.
  • Bronchitis (acute, chronic) - both forms are accompanied by a strong wet cough with the discharge of watery mucus. Attacks most often occur in a cold or dusty room, vomiting is possible in the morning.
  • Pneumonia – occurs with deep coughing fits, high temperature and painful sensations in the lungs. Convulsive fits with contraction of the diaphragm are so strong that vomiting with sputum appears.
  • Allergy – the action of an allergen provokes uncontrollable coughing fits, in some cases with vomiting, runny nose, sneezing and high temperature. The disease is characterized by seasonal exacerbations.
  • Tracheitis – a loud cough, high temperature, general weakness and specific chest pain. Attacks begin suddenly, usually after inhaling cold air or smoke. Purulent sputum may be discharged.
  • Bronchial asthma - attacks of suffocation and dry cough to vomiting appear at the initial stages of the disease. The pathology can be seasonal and manifest itself in allergic reactions.
  • Ascariasis - this disease is associated with helminthic invasion, that is, the movement of parasites into the lungs. The patient experiences painful attacks, leading to vomiting. Against this background, there is an elevated body temperature and skin rashes, intestinal obstruction, painful symptoms from the liver.
  • Tuberculosis - in the first days of the disease, a slight cough is observed, which quickly progresses. It is possible to pass not only vomiting during coughing fits, but also blood with mucus. The painful condition worsens at night, there is increased sweating and chills. Patients lose weight sharply.
  • Whooping cough – accompanied by severe attacks that reach vomiting and are periodically interrupted by heavy sighs. Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in children.
  • Measles is a painful dry cough with vomiting. The disease occurs with high temperature, rashes on the skin and mucous membranes.
  • Cancerous lung lesions – severe and frequent coughing fits with vomiting, but without an increase in body temperature. The patient experiences a deterioration in general health, increased weakness, headaches and other painful symptoms.
  • Pharyngitis, sinusitis and rhinitis in the chronic stage - these diseases are characterized by painful symptoms in the forehead and cheeks. Discomfort in the throat and nose is also observed.
  • Pleurisy is an inflammatory lesion of the serous membrane that surrounds the lungs. It occurs with shortness of breath, high temperature and chest pain.
  • Heart failure in the acute stage is characterized by shortness of breath, paroxysmal dry cough, leading to vomiting. Similar symptoms are also characteristic of mediastinal tumors.
  • Gallbladder diseases – attacks most often occur at night, accompanied by cramps in the shins and thighs. Increased sweating and eye pain are possible.
  • Reflux disease – the appearance of a cough is associated with irritation of the esophagus and larynx due to the throwing of stomach contents into it. It occurs without fever and other symptoms that are present with a cold. Discomfort occurs at night, when the body is in a horizontal position.

Another possible cause of a vomiting cough is the accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx. Attacks occur due to the flow of phlegm down the walls of the pharynx. This condition is most often associated with advanced colds.

The disorder occurs in smokers, with occupational diseases and after taking certain medications. If the cough reaches the point of vomiting, then you should seek medical help. After a comprehensive diagnosis, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

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Risk factors

Many pathological processes occurring in the body can cause coughing fits leading to vomiting. Risk factors for the gag reflex are most often associated with a decrease in the protective properties of the immune system and the occurrence of respiratory/cold diseases:

  • ARI
  • ARVI
  • Tracheitis
  • Bronchitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Tuberculosis
  • Oncological lesions of the lungs and respiratory system

A factor that provokes the painful condition may be insufficient functioning of the cardiovascular system. The disorder is accompanied by a lack of air and a desire to inhale as much as possible. Another possible risk factor is allergic reactions. When the irritant is eliminated, the condition normalizes.

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Pathogenesis

Cough with vomiting is a common symptom indicating cardiopulmonary disorders. Pathogenesis can be voluntary and reflex. Attacks have afferent and efferent pathways of origin:

  • Afferent factors – the cough reflex activates the receptors of the sensory endings of the superior laryngeal, glossopharyngeal, trigeminal and vagus nerves.
  • Efferent factors include the recurrent nerve, which regulates the closure of the glottis, and the spinal nerve endings responsible for the contraction of the abdominal and chest muscles.

The mechanism of cough origin is directly related to the action of an irritant followed by a deep breath. After this, the glottis closes, the skeletal muscles contract and the diaphragm relaxes. High intrathoracic pressure and positive pressure in the airways are created, which is opposed by the glottis. The pressure causes the trachea to narrow and creates a rapid air flow, which helps remove mucus, phlegm, and foreign bodies.

Dry and strong attacks activate the gag reflex, causing coughing with vomiting. Rupture of emphysematous areas is also possible. If the patient has bone tissue lesions, then convulsive and jerky contractions of the diaphragm can cause a rib fracture. Increased intrathoracic pressure and decreasing venous return to the heart can cause fainting. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with paroxysmal cough.

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Epidemiology

Irritation of irritant receptors by inflammatory, chemical, thermal or mechanical irritants leads to coughing fits. Epidemiology indicates that in 90% of cases, inflammatory irritation is associated with viruses and in 10% with bacteria. Under the influence of certain factors, viral pathology can cause a secondary bacterial infection. Most often, patients are diagnosed with influenza viruses, entero- and adenoviruses. As for bacterial infections, these are pneumococci, mycoplasma, and Haemophilus influenzae.

Mechanical irritants are inhaled tiny dust particles and allergens. Their action leads to increased tone of smooth muscles and development of bronchial asthma. If there is compression of the respiratory tract, this indicates pulmonary neoplasms, damage to the bronchi, aorta, mediastinum.

Chemical irritants include inhaling gases with a strong odor, such as cigarette smoke or chemical emissions. Thermal irritations are associated with inhaling hot or cold air, which burns the respiratory tract and causes vomiting.

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Symptoms

The symptoms of coughing to vomiting depend on the underlying disease and its severity. Most often, this disorder occurs with a dry cough, that is, in the absence of sputum secretion. In this case, the patient experiences tightness in the chest, a sore throat, and difficulty breathing.

Let's look at the main signs of pathologies that cause vomiting and coughing:

  • Viral infections – high temperature, dizziness, general weakness.
  • Oncology - long-term and persistent cough.
  • Whooping cough is a prolonged, dry attack caused by the small, aerobic, gram-negative coccus Bordetella pertussis.
  • Infectious lesions - dry expectoration, which gradually changes to wet.
  • Sinusitis, inflammation of the adenoids, rhinitis - prolonged attacks with nasal congestion, snoring and suffocation.

The symptoms of the disease also depend on the time of day:

  • Early morning – coughing fits occur in smokers, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, infectious inflammatory lesions and bronchiectasis.
  • Evening time – pneumonia, bronchitis.
  • Night – bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, tumor lesions.

A loud cough combined with vomiting attacks is typical for whooping cough. A quiet cough appears with inflammation, and a silent cough is ulceration of the vocal cords.

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Coughing to vomiting in an adult

If a cough leading to vomiting is diagnosed in an adult, this may indicate the following pathologies:

  • Flu and colds.
  • Infectious and viral pathologies.
  • Cardiovascular disorders.
  • Allergy.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Cancerous lesions of the lungs.

Complaints most often arise in smokers, people working in dusty rooms. If the appearance of a cough is associated with an exacerbation of colds, then the gag reflex is developed due to irritation of the receptors of the throat wall. Painful symptoms occur mainly in the evening and at night, creating problems with sleep. A muffled cough with gagging in the morning or on the street indicates an exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

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Severe cough to the point of vomiting

Such a symptom as a strong cough to vomiting can occur in both adults and children. But most often it is diagnosed in babies, since their centers responsible for the cough and gag reflexes are located very close, that is, they have a close connection. At an early age, the immune system does not have time to strengthen and form, so the body is more susceptible to various diseases.

The main causes of severe coughing attacks with vomiting:

  • Whooping cough.
  • Acute respiratory viral infections.
  • Flu.
  • Bronchitis (acute, chronic).
  • Chronic pneumonia.
  • Bronchial asthma.
  • Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
  • Allergic reactions.
  • Oncological pathologies (vomiting with blood impurities).

All of the above diseases, except for a strong vomiting cough, may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, stool disorders, runny nose and deterioration of general health. The nature of the pathology is indicated by the color of the secreted sputum and vomit. If there are blood streaks in the vomit, then this condition is characteristic of tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary embolism. The presence of a high temperature most often occurs during an exacerbation of bronchitis.

Treatment depends on the severity of the disease that caused the unpleasant symptoms. In particularly advanced cases, patients are prescribed inpatient therapy. Patients are prescribed antibiotics and drugs that suppress cough reflexes. A complex of vitamin preparations and physiotherapy procedures are also indicated.

Dry cough to vomiting

A reflex reaction of the body with a sharp contraction of the muscles of the respiratory system is a cough. It can occur both with the discharge of sputum and inflammatory purulent contents, and without. A dry cough to vomiting indicates the body's attempts to clear the respiratory system of irritants on its surface.

Most often, the pathological process is caused by the following reasons:

  • Bronchial asthma – spasmodic attacks that occur in the evening and at night. The cough is of an allergic nature and can occur with suffocation, pain in the chest and abdomen. In particularly severe cases, there is a discharge of thick, dark-colored sputum.
  • Whooping cough - the disease begins as a common cold, but soon the runny nose and fever turn into coughing fits with vomiting. The disorder lasts more than a month, and treatment can take place in a hospital setting.
  • ARI is a painful condition that occurs with inflammatory lesions of the ENT organs (nasopharynx, larynx, pharynx). As the disorder progresses, tracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia may develop. With bronchitis, attacks occur during the day and at night, and it is very difficult for the patient to cough up.
  • Getting a foreign object into the respiratory tract - paroxysmal painful vomiting cough that does not go away after taking medications. The condition normalizes only after removing foreign objects or particles.

In addition to the above factors, a dry cough leading to vomiting occurs with bronchiectasis, lung abscesses, bronchial and lung tumors, and mediastinal syndrome. A cough with vomiting, runny nose, and diarrhea occurs with rotavirus, or intestinal flu. In this case, the painful symptoms last for 3-4 days. With proper treatment, the patient's condition quickly normalizes. In any case, if the painful condition persists for a long period of time, you should seek medical help.

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Coughing at night until vomiting

Many diseases affecting the respiratory tract occur with coughing fits that intensify at night. Coughing at night to vomiting most often occurs in a horizontal body position. Blood supply slows down, and due to blocked airways, mucus/phlegm gets into the throat and provokes vomiting.

  • Gagging attacks when coughing at night are typical of a dry cough. The neck and face are tense, and tears may flow from the eyes. The amount of vomit is small, and the gagging stops after the cough subsides.
  • If the urge to vomit occurs between coughing fits, this indicates a wet cough. The disorder is associated with phlegm accumulated in the body, which is not removed during a night's rest. The respiratory tract is blocked and swollen. Vomiting occurs because the stomach is trying to remove the mucus that has entered it and prevents it from functioning normally.

The painful condition may be associated with the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, dry air in the room, or mouth breathing, which dries out the mucous membranes.

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Coughing fits leading to vomiting

A fairly common symptom indicating pathological processes in the body is coughing fits leading to vomiting. The painful condition is most often associated with the following reasons:

  • Bronchitis (acute, chronic).
  • Inflammatory lesions of the lungs.
  • Bronchial asthma.
  • Helminthiasis.
  • Tracheitis.
  • Whooping cough.

Severe coughing, leading to vomiting, can be observed with colds. So, with ARVI and ARI there is an elevated body temperature, deterioration of general health, headaches. The pathological condition occurs with various types of bronchitis, as well as in polluted rooms.

If the cough reaches the point of vomiting, it causes discomfort and additional pathological symptoms. Sputum is especially active at night, when the body is in a horizontal position and normal clearing of the respiratory tract is impossible. The patient may experience fainting and dizziness.

You can eliminate vomiting attacks when coughing by drinking plenty of warm fluids, eating right, and getting enough rest. Inhalations and additional air humidification are also recommended for treatment.

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Coughing to the point of vomiting in a child

Such a symptom as coughing to vomiting in a child is associated with the peculiarities of the child's body. Pediatricians explain this condition by the fact that in children, the cough and vomiting centers are located close to each other and are interconnected. If such symptoms occur, whooping cough should be ruled out first. During attacks, the baby tries to cough, but this does not work, the face turns purple and there are signs of suffocation. In some cases, such a complication as swelling of the vocal cords is observed.

If whooping cough is excluded as a cause of cough with vomiting, then other conditions should be differentiated:

  • ARVI
  • ENT pathologies
  • ARI
  • Flu

If the disorder is in an advanced form, it may indicate the development of bronchitis. In this case, the accumulation of thick mucus in the bronchi provokes coughing fits due to the fact that phlegm is not separated and is not removed to the surface of the respiratory tract. In ENT diseases and allergic reactions, mucus accumulates in the nasal cavity, flowing down the back of the throat, causing attacks of dry cough and regurgitation.

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Diagnostics coughing to vomiting

Cough is a symptom of many diseases, so it is very important to establish its etiology. Diagnosis of coughing to vomiting begins with collecting anamnesis. The doctor asks patients about:

  • Duration of attacks.
  • Relationship between the onset of the disorder and the time of day.
  • The nature and timbre of the defect.
  • The presence of fever, wheezing and other symptoms.

During the examination, the presence of unfavorable factors that are characteristic of occupational asthma, as well as such a bad habit as smoking, is taken into account. During a physical examination, the doctor evaluates the condition of the upper and lower respiratory tract, the lung parenchyma. Wheezing and noisy breathing indicates obstruction of the upper respiratory tract. Wheezing is bronchospasm, and wet wheezing when inhaling in combination with vomiting is bronchitis.

Laboratory diagnostics are mandatory, which include blood, urine and sputum analysis. Another important stage of the examination is instrumental diagnostics. The patient undergoes chest X-ray and CT scan and a number of other procedures. Particular attention is paid to differentiating the disease state from pathologies with similar symptoms. Based on the comprehensive examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

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Tests

Coughing fits that lead to vomiting are a sign of many diseases, so when they appear, doctors should exclude many diagnoses. Tests simplify the identification of the root cause of the disorder, as they allow you to assess the general condition of the body, each organ or system separately.

Basic tests for vomiting cough:

  • General blood test – allows you to draw conclusions about the nature of the disease, i.e. its viral, bacterial or inflammatory nature. This analysis makes it possible to exclude allergic pathologies and the presence of parasites.
  • Blood test for mycoplasmosis and chlamydia. Mycoplasmosis is an infectious disease that occurs as an upper or lower respiratory tract infection. Pulmonary chlamydia is a respiratory infection caused by the Chlamydia psittaci virus.
  • Blood gas analysis – assessment of blood oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide levels.
  • General urine analysis – is necessary to exclude specific disorders of the kidneys and gall bladder. It is also used to compare the obtained indicators with blood tests.
  • Stool analysis – this study is carried out to exclude helminthic invasion, which can provoke a painful condition with coughing and vomiting. Diagnostics is aimed at identifying antibodies to a certain type of helminth.
  • Sputum analysis for microflora – allows you to assess the condition of the lungs and bronchi. With the help of this study, you can identify bronchial asthma, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, the presence of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract and other pathologies. It also allows you to establish the sensitivity of secretions to antibacterial drugs.

Based on the results of the tests, the doctor can draw conclusions about the possible cause of the painful condition and, if necessary, prescribe additional studies.

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Instrumental diagnostics

All patients with coughing fits are prescribed instrumental diagnostics. The examination complex includes the following procedures:

  • Chest X-ray – allows to confirm or exclude tumor lesions, infections, pathologies of the interstitial tissue, hilar lymphadenitis.
  • Computed tomography – used if bronchiectasis or interstitial lung diseases are suspected.
  • Spirometry is an assessment of the airflow through the airways and the ability of the lungs to expand.
  • Fibrobronchoscopy is an examination of the bronchial mucosa and an assessment of its cellular composition. This study is prescribed if there is a suspicion of cancerous growths in the lungs and sarcoidosis.
  • Body plethysmography is an assessment of the function of external respiration. It allows determining the volume and capacity of the lungs, which is not always revealed by spirography.
  • Angiopulmonography is a study of the pulmonary vessels.
  • Lung biopsy – performed when granulomas are detected in the trachea or bronchi.
  • A bronchoprovocation test is spirometry performed before and after inhalation of a bronchodilator. It is used to assess the reversibility of bronchial constriction.

Instrumental diagnostics are carried out during treatment and after its completion to assess the patient's condition.

Differential diagnosis

Such a symptom as cough with vomiting is inherent in many diseases. Differential diagnostics allows to identify the true causes of the disorder. Differentiation is carried out with the following pathologies:

  • ARI – coughing fits have different intensity. At the beginning of the disease they are dry, that is, without phlegm, but as the disease progresses they become wet. Catarrhal symptoms are present.
  • Bronchitis is a disease caused by viral or bacterial pathogens. A couple of days after the onset of the disease, copious sputum and scattered moist rales appear. Paroxysmal coughing persists for several days, breathing and pulse are rapid.
  • Bronchial asthma - a coughing attack is caused by contact with an allergen and suffocation. At the end of the attack, glassy sputum is released.
  • Influenza pneumonia – occurs on the 5-7th day of the flu, but in pediatric patients it can be observed earlier. It is characterized by a sharp deterioration in general health, severe intoxication of the body, severe chest pain and high temperature. The blood test shows an increased content of leukocytes and a shift in the formula to the left.
  • Lobar pneumonia - the cough is dry and very painful. There is a discharge of rusty-colored sputum. The temperature is elevated, feverish condition, severe chest pain, rapid breathing and pulse.
  • Pulmonary tuberculosis - this disease is characterized by a morning cough with sputum production and painful attacks with fluid accumulation.
  • Pulmonary edema - severe shortness of breath, but coughing and vomiting temporarily improve well-being.
  • Dry pleurisy - paroxysmal cough at the onset of the disease with stabbing pains in the chest. When the attacks are restrained, severe pain appears.
  • Laryngitis is a strong barking cough that irritates the larynx. It occurs with hoarseness and roughness of the voice. Most often it develops due to inflammatory lesions of the nasopharynx.

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system and other internal organs are also taken into account. In differential diagnostics in children, attention is paid to the symptoms of whooping cough, stenosis of the larynx, croup and anomalies in the development of the respiratory system.

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Treatment coughing to vomiting

Treatment of vomiting cough should be performed only by a doctor, self-medication is not allowed. Without timely therapy, the disease can become chronic, cause serious consequences and complications

Complications and consequences

If the cough persists for a long period of time and no medication helps to eliminate it, it can cause serious consequences and complications.

Most often, patients face the following problems:

  • Sleep disorders.
  • Vomit.
  • Fainting and short-term loss of consciousness.
  • Pneumothorax.
  • Involuntary defecation and urination.
  • Formation of abdominal and pelvic hernia due to severe coughing.
  • Suffocation.

This condition requires serious diagnostics and medical care. The most serious consequences and complications occur in pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. Strong tension in the abdominal muscles can cause bleeding and premature birth.

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Prevention

There is currently no effective way to prevent the occurrence of a severe cough that leads to vomiting. Prevention is aimed at reducing the risk factors for the development of a painful condition:

  • Avoid large crowds of people, especially during periods of viral and infectious diseases.
  • Stop smoking, including passive smoking. Tobacco smoke significantly increases the risk of chronic pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system.
  • Treat any illnesses promptly, preventing them from becoming chronic.
  • Practice good hygiene, wash your hands with disinfectants to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
  • Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. Eat fruits and vegetables that provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function properly.
  • Dress for the weather, especially in cold weather. Try to cover your throat, as a cold is one of the factors in the development of bronchitis and other pathologies with coughing fits.

In addition to the above-mentioned preventive methods, it is recommended to undergo annual vaccination. This is especially important for children and pensioners, pregnant women. It will not be superfluous to harden the body to strengthen the immune system.

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Forecast

A condition in which coughing leads to vomiting requires complex diagnostics and treatment. The prognosis depends on the causes that provoked it. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the higher the chances of avoiding all sorts of consequences. If the disorder is chronic, the prognosis worsens, as there is a high risk of developing serious complications from many organs and systems.

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