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What Causes The Reflexes Of Cough When Foreign Matter Is Stuck In Trachea?

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Posted on Thu, 29 Oct 2015
Question: Dear Doctor.
I already ask about the mechanism of cough when particle or dust get into nose and stuck in cillia of trachea.
Then I still have some more queries related for mechanical stimuli for making cough.
when Virus or micron dust stuck in mucus, in my imagination it is very light so it cannot give the signal to sensory for making cough... and also there is no sensor for catching foreign body in mucus.
but if particle is some what heavy such as 2cm hair, it could touch the cillia and cillia could give signal to the receptors...and making cough.
Am I right?
pls. explain me the more abiut the cough mechanism when large particle get into trachea and stuck in mucus and touch the cillia.
and is it possible not to know if such somewhat large particle stuck ine the mucosa in trachea without notice or not coughing
doctor
Answered by Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
immune mechanism- virus or micro dust.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.


Answers for your queries.

1. Airway passage (vocal cards, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles) lined by respriratoy epithelium which contains Pulmonary irritant receptors (cough receptors) which are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli.

2. The bronchi and trachea are so sensitive to light touch that slight amounts of foreign matter or other causes of irritation initiate the cough reflex. The larynx and XXXXXXX are especially sensitive, and the terminal bronchioles and even the alveoli are sensitive to chemical stimuli (toxic gases).

3. In case of virus (common cold) or mico dust, no doubt with smaller size, they are capable of causing immune response, the virus binds to human ICAM-1 receptors through unknown mechanisms to trigger the release of inflammatory mediators. These inflammatory mediators then produce the symptoms (cough).

4. Cough is a alarming symptom in case of small or larger foreign body, where obstructed foreign body in respiratory passage (mucus or cilia) can lead to complications like pneumonia, atelectasis, collapse or respiratory failure.

Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (46 minutes later)
Thank you for answers.
last query is if particle touch cillia, not mucosa linong or epithelium, then cillia also could deliver the signal to cough sensor?
and if particle stuck in mucosa lining, then there must be some body reation. right?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
cough reflex- protective mechanism.

Detailed Answer:

Hello again,


Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.

Answers for your queries.

1. Yes. Cilia with foreign body ( food bolus or environmental dust or virus or tocxic gas) intiates instant cough reflex and the foreign body expels out with air pressure of lungs.

2. Body reaction, could be simple cough (partial obstruction) or cyanosis, choking (total airway obstruction). In case of retained foreign body, infection with respiratory failure symptoms will be seen.

Hope, I have answered your query.

Take care.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Abubakar Siddiqh

ENT Specialist

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 2038 Questions

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What Causes The Reflexes Of Cough When Foreign Matter Is Stuck In Trachea?

Brief Answer: immune mechanism- virus or micro dust. Detailed Answer: Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns. Answers for your queries. 1. Airway passage (vocal cards, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles) lined by respriratoy epithelium which contains Pulmonary irritant receptors (cough receptors) which are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli. 2. The bronchi and trachea are so sensitive to light touch that slight amounts of foreign matter or other causes of irritation initiate the cough reflex. The larynx and XXXXXXX are especially sensitive, and the terminal bronchioles and even the alveoli are sensitive to chemical stimuli (toxic gases). 3. In case of virus (common cold) or mico dust, no doubt with smaller size, they are capable of causing immune response, the virus binds to human ICAM-1 receptors through unknown mechanisms to trigger the release of inflammatory mediators. These inflammatory mediators then produce the symptoms (cough). 4. Cough is a alarming symptom in case of small or larger foreign body, where obstructed foreign body in respiratory passage (mucus or cilia) can lead to complications like pneumonia, atelectasis, collapse or respiratory failure. Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions. Wishing you good health.