Final answer:
A dry non-productive cough can cause irritation, particularly in the throat or airways, as opposed to productive coughs seen with conditions like bronchitis, which involve mucus that needs to be cleared.
Step-by-step explanation:
A dry non-productive cough can cause irritation in the airways. When discussing reasons for mucus production and coughing, it's important to differentiate between productive and non-productive coughs. For instance, smoking damages the cilia in the lungs which are responsible for removing particulate matter, leading to increased mucus production and a persistent cough.
In contrast, dry coughs do not involve mucus production and are often a response to irritation in the throat or airways. Airway irritation can also occur in conditions like bronchitis, which involves inflammation, excess mucus, and a productive cough to clear the airways. In the treatment of bronchitis, thinning and loosening the mucus is key rather than suppressing the cough, which is necessary for expelling mucus.