yskää

Yskää is the partitive form of the Finnish noun yskä, which means cough. Yskä denotes the reflex and symptom by which the airways are cleared of irritants. In everyday Finnish, yskää is used in expressions such as "minulla on yskää" (I have a cough), and it appears in other grammatical constructions that require the partitive form.

Causes of yskää vary and can be broadly categorized as infectious and non-infectious. Common infectious causes include upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold, influenza, bronchitis, and less often pneumonia. Non-infectious causes include allergies, asthma, chronic lung diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and exposure to irritants like tobacco smoke, air pollution, or strong smells. Coughs can be dry (non-productive) or productive, producing sputum.

Diagnosis and management depend on the duration, associated symptoms, and the suspected underlying cause. Acute yskää typically resolves within a few weeks, whereas chronic coughs lasting eight weeks or longer warrant medical evaluation. Red flags prompting prompt medical attention include fever with chest pain, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, or persistent shortness of breath. Diagnosis generally relies on medical history, physical examination, and sometimes chest imaging or testing for underlying conditions.

Treatment focuses on relief of symptoms and addressing the cause. For many mild acute coughs, self-care measures such as fluids, rest, humidified air, and soothing remedies can help. Honey is commonly used for children over one year, while adults may use available over-the-counter antitussives or expectorants with variable effectiveness. Antibiotics are not routinely recommended for coughs and should be reserved for cases with suspected bacterial infection or specific diagnoses. Preventive measures include vaccination against influenza and pneumococcus, avoiding tobacco smoke, and managing chronic conditions that can contribute to coughing.

See also: Cough; Finnish language.