What causes cough in pulmonary fibrosis, and how should we treat it?

Abstract

To review the current understanding of the impact, mechanisms and treatments for cough in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Evidence suggests that cough is a prevalent symptom in patients with ILD and has a significant impact on patients. There is increasing interest in the role of cough hypersensitivity as seen in chronic refractory cough in patients with ILD, and encouraging recent results suggest that ILD-associated cough responds to opiate therapy. Understanding the aetiology of cough in patients with ILD is crucial to continue to develop therapies which might be effective in reducing cough and increasing quality of life.