A chronic cough is more than just an annoyance and needs medical supervision.
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children.
While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux. Fortunately, chronic cough typically disappears once the underlying problem is treated.
After diagnosing the underlying cause and treating it adequately, a chronic cough is cured.
Symptoms:
A chronic cough can occur with other signs and symptoms, which may include:
- A runny or stuffy nose
- A feeling of liquid running down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
- Frequent throat clearing and sore throat
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- Heartburn
- Sour taste in your mouth
- In rare cases, coughing up blood
Causes
An occasional cough is normal. However, a cough that persists for weeks is usually the result of a medical problem.
The following causes, alone or in combination, are responsible for the majority of cases of chronic cough:
- Postnasal drip
- Asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Infections
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Blood pressure drugs
Less commonly, chronic cough may be caused by: Aspiration, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis,
cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis and etc.
While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common cause is tobacco use.
To make a diagnosis, your doctor will examine your family history and schedule laboratory and instrumental tests.
source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-cough/symptoms-causes/syc-20351575
