Batuk (a cough) usually clears up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks, and most coughs are caused by a cold or flu. Kahak is the Malay word for phlegm, the mucus you may cough up with a chesty cough. Rest, plenty of fluids and a warm lemon and honey drink can ease a cough, and pharmacy cough syrups or sweets may help you cough less, although a Cochrane review found no good evidence for or against over-the-counter cough medicines. Antibiotics are not usually needed. See a doctor if a cough lasts more than 3 weeks, you lose weight for no reason, or you have a weakened immune system, and get urgent help if you cough up blood, have chest pain or find it hard to breathe.
What are batuk and kahak? Dry vs chesty cough
A cough is your body's way of clearing your airways. In Malay, people often describe two types:
| Batuk kering (dry cough) | Batuk berkahak (chesty cough) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it feels like | A tickly or irritating cough that does not bring up phlegm | A cough that brings up phlegm (kahak) from the chest or throat |
| Possible causes | Colds and flu, allergies, smoke, acid reflux, mucus dripping down the back of the throat | Colds and flu, chest infections such as bronchitis |
| What helps | Fluids, honey and lemon, cough sweets, sipping cold water | Plenty of water to loosen mucus, extra pillows at night, cough medicines that loosen mucus |
What colour is your phlegm? According to the NHS, a chest infection can cause a chesty cough with green or yellow mucus. Phlegm and mucus are not harmful in themselves; they are the body's way of clearing infection. Blood in your phlegm is different and should always be checked (see below).
What causes a cough?
According to the NHS, most coughs are caused by a cold or flu; see our guide to selsema. Other causes include:
- smoking;
- heartburn (acid reflux); see our guide to gastrik;
- allergies, such as hay fever or resdung (allergic rhinitis);
- infections such as bronchitis or COVID-19;
- mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose (postnasal drip), for example with sinusitis.
In Malaysia, smoke and haze (jerebu) can also irritate the airways; see our haze guide for families. A cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer, but a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks should be checked.
Petua hilangkan batuk: how to ease a cough at home
There's usually no need to see a doctor for a short-term cough. The NHS recommends:
- rest;
- drink plenty of fluids, which also helps loosen mucus so it is easier to cough up;
- stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for your normal activities;
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain;
- do not smoke, as it can make symptoms worse.
Warm lemon and honey. Squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, and drink while still warm. The NHS says this can have a similar effect to cough syrup, although the evidence is limited. Do not give honey to babies under 1, and do not give hot drinks to small children.
For phlegm and a blocked nose, the NHS also suggests:
- raising your head with extra pillows at night to make breathing easier and help clear your chest;
- sipping ice-cold water when you need to clear your throat, rather than coughing;
- using a humidifier, or sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running, to loosen mucus;
- gargling with salt water for a sore throat; see our guide to sakit tekak.
Do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water, because of the risk of scalding.
Ubat batuk di farmasi: do cough medicines work?
A pharmacist can suggest cough syrup, cough medicine or cough sweets. According to the NHS, these will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less. Common types include:
- medicines that loosen mucus (expectorants and mucolytics, often called ubat cair kahak), for a chesty cough;
- cough suppressants, for a dry cough;
- combination cold and flu products.
What does the evidence say? A 2014 Cochrane review of 29 trials concluded that there is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines. Results varied between trials, and in adults, antihistamines were no more effective than placebo for cough. The NHS also notes that decongestants and cough medicines containing codeine will not stop a cough.
Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs, because most are caused by viruses. A doctor will only prescribe them if you need them, for example if you have a bacterial infection or are at risk of complications.
Some medicines and herbal treatments are not safe for everyone, for example if you are pregnant. Always read the leaflet or ask a pharmacist before taking them.
Ubat batuk kanak-kanak: coughs in children
Coughs are common in children and usually get better on their own. Take extra care with medicines:
- the NHS says some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12, and cough medicines that loosen mucus are not suitable for children under 6;
- never give honey to babies under 1;
- do not give aspirin to children under 16.
Honey for children over 1. A 2018 Cochrane review of 6 trials in 899 children found that honey probably reduces how often children cough better than no treatment or a placebo, and may work about as well as dextromethorphan, a common cough medicine ingredient.
Batuk kokol (whooping cough). Whooping cough starts like a cold, then after about a week causes coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are worse at night, sometimes with a "whoop" sound when gasping for breath. It can be serious in babies. Get urgent advice if a baby under 6 months has these symptoms, and make sure your child's vaccinations are up to date.
Batuk berpanjangan: when a cough lasts more than 3 weeks
According to the NHS, see a doctor if:
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks (a persistent cough);
- you are losing weight for no reason;
- you have a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or diabetes.
After a chest infection, the cough and mucus can last up to 3 weeks. A cough that lasts longer can have many causes, including allergies, acid reflux and smoking. It can also be a sign of tuberculosis (TB, or tibi): the NHS lists a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, sometimes with phlegm or blood, as a main symptom of TB. A doctor may listen to your chest, test a sample of your phlegm, or arrange a chest X-ray.
Batuk berdarah: what if you cough up blood?
Coughing up blood (batuk berdarah or kahak berdarah) can have many causes, including a long-lasting or severe cough, or a lung infection such as a chest infection, pneumonia, tuberculosis or bronchitis. It can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, such as a blood clot or lung cancer, so it is important to get it checked. According to the NHS:
- get an urgent appointment if you have coughed up a few small spots, flecks or streaks of blood, or noticed blood in your phlegm;
- go to the emergency department if you are coughing up more than a few spots or streaks of blood, or you are coughing up blood and find it hard to breathe, have a very fast heartbeat, or have pain in your chest or upper back.
When should you see a doctor?
Get urgent medical advice, according to the NHS, if:
- your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse, for example you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing;
- you feel very unwell;
- you have chest pain;
- the side of your neck feels swollen and painful;
- you find it hard to breathe;
- you are coughing up blood.
With a chest infection, also see a doctor if you are pregnant, over 65, or have a long-term heart, lung or kidney condition, or diabetes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is batuk and kahak in English?
Batuk is the Malay word for a cough, and kahak means phlegm: the thick mucus you may cough up from your chest or throat. A cough without phlegm is often called batuk kering (a dry cough), and a cough that brings up phlegm is a chesty or productive cough (batuk berkahak).
What is the best ubat batuk?
Most coughs clear up on their own within 3 to 4 weeks. Rest, plenty of fluids, and a warm lemon and honey drink can help. A pharmacist can suggest cough syrup, cough medicine or cough sweets, which may help you cough less but will not stop a cough. A Cochrane review found no good evidence for or against over-the-counter cough medicines.
How do I get rid of a cough fast (petua hilangkan batuk)?
There is no quick cure, but you can ease a cough by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, taking a warm drink of lemon and honey (not for babies under 1), gargling with salt water for a sore throat, and sipping cold water when you need to clear your throat. Do not smoke, as it makes coughing worse.
What helps to loosen phlegm (ubat cair kahak)?
Drinking plenty of water helps loosen mucus so it is easier to cough up. Raising your head with extra pillows at night, a humidifier or a steamy bathroom can also help. A pharmacist can recommend cough medicines that loosen mucus, but they are not suitable for children under 6.
What cough medicine is safe for children (ubat batuk kanak-kanak)?
Many cough medicines are not suitable for young children; the NHS says some should not be given to children under 12, and medicines to loosen mucus are not suitable under 6. For children over 1, a Cochrane review found that honey probably reduces cough better than no treatment. Never give honey to babies under 1 or aspirin to children under 16.
When is a long-lasting cough (batuk berpanjangan) a concern?
See a doctor if you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks, are losing weight for no reason, or have a weakened immune system, such as from diabetes. A cough lasting more than 3 weeks can be a sign of tuberculosis (TB), whooping cough or another condition that needs checking.
Is coughing up blood (batuk berdarah) serious?
Coughing up blood should always be checked. Get an urgent appointment if you have a few small spots or streaks of blood in your phlegm. Go to the emergency department if you are coughing up more than a few streaks of blood, or have blood with difficulty breathing, a very fast heartbeat or chest pain.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Cough — NHS
- Chest infection — NHS
- Catarrh — NHS
- Coughing up blood (blood in phlegm) — NHS
- Whooping cough — NHS
- Tuberculosis (TB) — NHS
- Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(11):CD001831.
- Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4(4):CD007094.
