Lung Health Archive

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under a year old. Usually, cases drop in spring and summer, but the pattern is changing and parents should be watchful.

News briefs

Hold off before you follow new recommendations to treat mild, persistent asthma — or at least consult your doctor first. The updated guidelines from the National Institutes of Health, published online in the December 2020 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, say it's okay for people with mild, persistent asthma to stop daily use of inhaled corticosteroids and instead use them only as needed, along with short-acting beta agonists ("rescue" medications). That's considered a major shift in guidance. But that may not be a good idea for some older adults, notes Dr. Anna Wolfson, an allergist and immunologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. "A lot of people have a harder time with the occasional use of medications than a routine practice of daily use," she says. "And you may not want to decrease your asthma regimen during the pandemic. Poorly controlled asthma could lead to a flare or an ER visit, and perhaps an increased risk for complications if you develop COVID-19." Dr. Wolfson says there are some people who might benefit from using inhaled corticosteroids only as needed, but she urges you to speak with your doctor before changing your medication regimen.

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Learn how COVID-19 symptoms compare to other illnesses, and when you should call the doctor.

Before 2020, you might not have worried much about a tickle in your throat or a little tightness in your chest. But that's changed.

Now even slight signs of a respiratory bug might make you wonder if it's the start of COVID-19, the illness that has become a pandemic.

Recognize cough symptoms so you know when to seek treatment.

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Dry cough, wet cough, a cough that lingers on — they're all signs of one or more underlying conditions. What does each type of cough indicate, and how do doctors discern the difference? It depends on the type and duration of the cough.

Wet cough

A wet, productive cough produces sputum (phlegm or mucus from the lungs or sinuses). The cough sounds soupy and may come with a wheezing or rattling sound and tightness in your chest.