A Sjögren's cough is typically a persistent, chronic dry cough that does not go away. It often feels irritating and may be described as a "bark" or be associated with hoarseness, resulting from dryness in the throat and airways (xerotrachea).
The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but other parts of the body may be affected as well, with many people reporting fatigue and joint and muscle pain. In addition, the disease can damage the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system. Sjögren's disease predominantly affects women.
If your mouth is very dry, you may have other problems, such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), tooth decay and gum disease. Other symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome can include: dry skin that may be itchy. a cough that does not go away.
Mouth and throat problems
Your mouth or throat might also feel sticky. It can sometimes be hard to swallow, or you might find that things taste different. You may find that you need to drink water while eating. Your voice may be hoarse or weak, and some people have a dry cough.
The two most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth. From there, the disease can evolve into symptoms that affect the entire body. Symptoms can include: Dry mouth, which can lead to trouble with talking, chewing, or swallowing.
Sjögren syndrome is a chronic systemic rheumatic disease that is characterized by excessive dryness of the eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes. White blood cells damage glands that make moisture, and sometimes other organs can be damaged. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the hallmark symptoms of this syndrome.
Nipocalimab is the first and only investigational therapy granted U.S. FDA breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of adults living with moderate-to-severe Sjögren's disease [news release]. Johnson & Johnson. 2024 Nov 11.
Other causes of bronchiectasis can include: Cystic fibrosis, a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs. Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Interestingly, we have found that patients with Sjogren's syndrome often present with symptoms such as reflux and heartburn during clinical treatment, and the results of previous studies are consistent with our observations. GERD is one of the common complications of SS.
Specific Tests for Sjögren's Syndrome
Your doctor may recommend some or all of the following tests: Blood and urine tests, to look for the presence of antibodies common in Sjögren's syndrome. The results of an ANA (antinuclear antibody) test will determine if you have an autoimmune disorder.
The pulmonary manifestations of primary Sjögren's syndrome include airway abnormalities, interstitial pneumonia and lymphoproliferative disorders (table 1). Interstitial pneumonia and airway abnormalities often coexist. Infections and drug-induced pneumonia should always be considered and ruled out first.
People with Sjögren's might experience symptoms like: Dry eyes that may feel itchy or gritty. Dry mouth that can also include trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking. Dry nose or throat, which may lead to frequent nosebleeds or coughing.
A positive result for SSA (Ro) or SSB (La) antibodies is highly suggestive of a diagnosis of Sjogren syndrome. The presence of isolated anti-SS-B/La antibody has low positive predictive value of Sjogren syndrome.
Because your body has trouble producing saliva, you may experience difficulty swallowing when symptoms flare up. Your mouth may feel chalky, and you may have trouble swallowing food. Many people with Sjogren's develop cavities and oral infections.
The CNS manifestations of pSS include diffuse abnormalities (psychiatric changes, encephalopathy, aseptic meningitis, and cognitive difficulties/dementia) and focal or multifocal involvement of the brain and spinal cord leading to motor and sensory deficits, seizures, aphasia, and optic neuropathy [12, 31].
The primary form of Sjögren's syndrome occurs by itself, without the presence of other autoimmune diseases. Secondary Sjögren's syndrome happens in combination with other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, or polymyositis.
SjS induces disorders of the functions of mouth, throat and larynx. This causes disorders in swallowing and in voice [9]. Dryness in SjS patients leads to dysphagia, with the major impact on oral and pharyngeal transport. Often patients have to drink at mealtime to remove leftovers from the mouth.
Start with five minutes of aerobic exercise daily (e.g. walking, biking, running, elliptical, treadmill) and increase the duration by an additional two-to-three minutes each month up to a maximum of 25 minutes daily.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms in Sjögren's
Dysautonomia can cause impairment of muscle movement in the esophagus, colon, intestines, and stomach leading to common symptoms like impaired swallowing, nausea, constipation, gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), and more.
Common causes of chronic cough include asthma, postnasal drip and acid reflux (GERD). Treatments depend on the underlying cause. But they usually involve taking medicines and making changes to your routine. If you or your child has a long-lasting cough, see a healthcare provider.
About 40% have a chronic cough. Doctors should investigate the cough to identify the cause. People with Sjögren's can develop PH, chronic cough, blood clots in the lungs, fluid around the lungs, vasculitis and other lung disorders, including inflammation of the lung tissue known as interstitial lung disease.
The presence of Sjögren's disease appears to aggravate the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. This may be manifested by thinning of the pubic hair, loss of vaginal rugae, decreased vaginal moisture, and narrowing of the vaginal introitus.
It has been reported that more than 400 drugs can exacerbate the dryness symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome, including antihypertensives, diuretics, antidepressants, antiparkinson drugs, antipsychotics, antihistamines, centrally acting analgesics, and anticholinergics [6], [13], [14], [15].
Corticosteroids, a class of drugs that includes prednisone, are fast-acting and may be highly successful in halting severe symptoms of Sjögren's and/or a flare.
Nipocalimab is the only investigational treatment to be granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SjD (November 2024). It also received Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA earlier this year in April 2025.