What Are the Causes of a Dry Cough & Tiredness?

There are many potential causes of a dry cough and tiredness. This is predominantly because many illnesses, whether serious or short-term, start off with these basic symptoms. While it is best to receive a diagnosis from a doctor, you may be able to determine what you have simply by understanding the symptoms of a few diseases.

Common Cold

• The common cold is characterized by a scratchy throat, dry cough, fatigue, and runny nose. It generally only lasts for one to two weeks, but the frequency of having a cold can be a source of difficulty for some. The cough that accompanies the common cold is dry and hoarse. Usually, a cough that produces mucus or full of phlegm is a sign of an illness more serious than the common cold, such as acute bronchitis. The common cold also causes constant tiredness, especially for the first few days of the sickness.

Allergies

• Allergies can be a cause of a dry cough and tiredness. Some may not even realize that it is allergies that they are experiencing, because allergies can start very suddenly at essentially any age. It is not unusual to start to experience allergies in your 20s. Inhaling things such as pollen, dust, and pet dander can trigger a cough, as well as a stuffy nose and persistent sneezing. Allergies can also cause fatigue, as the constant coughing, blocked nasal passages, and overall state of feeling unwell can lead you to feel more tired and less alert than usual.

Pneumonia

• While it is less likely that your dry cough and tiredness are symptoms of pneumonia, it is still very possible. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, which directly affects one's ability to breathe comfortably. Because of the inability to breathe normally, people experience exhaustion that lasts for as long as symptoms occur. Pneumonia generally only lasts for about three weeks if treated shortly after symptoms begin. The cough that accompanies pneumonia is dry, persistent, and slightly painful due to the difficulty breathing.

Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

• The flu is significantly less prevalent or common than a basic cold, but its symptoms are similar to that of the common cold. The flu is a contagious respiratory sickness. It is caused by an influenza virus and can involve mild or very severe symptoms. People with the flu experience a dry cough and fatigue, along with a variety of other symptoms such as fever, body aches, and a runny or stuffy nose. If you get a flu vaccination every year, you can be sure that your dry cough and tiredness are not a result of the flu.