Chronic Cough
Chronic cough is a persistent cough that lasts for at least eight weeks, or even much longer. Although cough is a common symptom of many lung diseases, chronic cough cannot always be linked to another disease or condition and it often does not respond to treatment. Chronic cough can be a burden to daily life, with lack of sleep, mental and physical exhaustion and social stigma impacting your quality of life.
Diagnosis
Tests will be ordered to identify the underlying cause of chronic cough including:
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests
- Throat swab for respiratory virus
- Chest CT
- Phlegm or sputum sample
- Spirometry
- Methacholine challenge test
- Brochoscopy
Treatment
Treatment will depend on test results. If your cough is identified as being caused by a specific medical condition such as asthma, COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, sinus drainage issues, nasal polyps, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) there may be specific treatments that can be helpful in getting rid of the cough or at least making it more manageable.