Submitted by [deleted] t3_zgu1hn in askscience
Nyrin t1_izlql9p wrote
Reply to comment by Kabc in Post viral cough: why does it get worse after you get better? by [deleted]
A potential crude analogy to this with a healing process that's much more visible to us is with sunburns.
While your skin is actively damaged by overexposure, you may or may not experience a certain set of symptoms with flushing, itching, irritation and sensitivity. For a long time afterwards, even with no active damage continuing to happen, you then deal with itchiness, sensitivity, flaking, peeling, and all the other delights of dermal repair.
Respiratory infections damage respiratory tissue in a parallel way to the sunburn. Once infection has been fought off, a lot of inflamed, compromised structure needs to be repaired and replaced and we respond to inflammation and debris by coughing.
CarboniferousCreek t1_iznc6eu wrote
Thanks! And also, gross! Just imagining flakey peeling lungs now.
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