Résumé
Cough is both a natural reflex used by the body to clear the airways and a potentially disabling symptom if too intense or prolonged. The longstanding standard treatment for irritative cough has been codeine, an opioid extracted from the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum), also used for its analgesic properties. The efficacy of this treatment is now challenged, partly due to clinical studies that fail to distinguish its effectiveness from that of a placebo, and also because of potentially severe side effects and problematic patterns of use: misuse, addiction, and increasing popularity among youth in the case of Purple Drank. Official recommendations therefore do not endorse the use of codeine for the treatment of irritative cough. For acute viral infections, rest, adequate hydration, frequent hand washing, and the use of honey and antipyretics are recommended to alleviate symptoms. If the cough is not viral in origin or in cases of chronic cough, medical consultation is advised to investigate underlying causes and initiate appropriate treatment.