Cough is a protective reflex and it is your body's way of getting rid of accumulation in the respiratory tract. Coughs can be categorized by the duration and productivity. Duration refers to how long the person has to cough.

A productive cough, or wet cough is one that produces some of the sputum (mucus or phlegm) that protects the lungs. A non-productive cough, or dry cough is often the result of irritation caused by mucus running from the nasal passage to the throat.