Chronic cough

Abstract

Chronic cough is a common symptom presenting to all clinicians. Every effort should be made to determine the cause(s) of cough because specific therapy has a higher likelihood of success than empiric therapy. Evaluation begins with a complete history, physical examination, routine health screen laboratory testing, chest film, and pulmonary function testing. Further investigation should be guided by the response to treatment of the most likely diagnostic possibilities: postnasal drip, cough-variant asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and ACE inhibitor induced. The majority of each patient's workup can be performed and ordered by the primary care physician.