Don warns Nigerians against regular consumption of cough syrups

A professor of medicine and pulmonology, Cajetan Onyedum, has cautioned Nigerians against regular consumption of cough syrups as some of them contain substances of abuse and toxic containment.

Onyedum, who is the Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, stated this during the 181st inaugural lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu on Thursday.

The don delivered a lecture titled, “Doctor, I have ‘Normal’ Cough: An Exegesis of Normal and Abnormal Cough.”

He said that cough, if not properly investigated, could lead to overconsumption of cough syrups and antibiotics, with resultant side effects that included drowsiness, drug abuse, and addictions.

Onyedum explained that coughing was a natural body protective response that mounted when mucus, germs, dust, and other particles irritated someone’s throat and airways.

He advised that we should not suppress the cough reflex, stressing that coughing out sputum or phlegm should be encouraged as it removes what was inhaled, such as dust and excessive secretions that build up in the airways.

“We must begin to review ourselves when we cough to ascertain if we just have a normal cough or a persistent one.

“An occasional cough may be normal, but a cough that persists is not and cannot be normal.

“The burden of cough, both as a symptom and a disease, is quite substantial and impacts negatively on the complete well-being of all,” he said.

The don described an acute and chronic cough as one that lasted for more than three weeks, advising Nigerians to see a doctor if the symptoms persisted.

He added that chronic coughs are caused by smoking, chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and obstructive sleep apnea, among others.

In his opening remark, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, said inaugural lectures were regular events, adding that Onyedum’s lecture was special as it dealt with identifying a normal cough from an abnormal one.

The Vice Chancellor said that the topic made many students run away from studying medicine due to what people coughed out.

Igwe stated that the inaugural lecture showed that the person presenting it had arrived at his professorship.

“I am happy that Prof. Onyedum has arrived and is using cough in his research,” he said.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards and the UNN certificate of the 181st inaugural lecturer to Prof. Onyedum by the university.