Cough (Patient Counselling Guide)

Cough, or tussis, is a protective reflex that forces air up and out of the lungs and upper airways (eg, windpipe, nose, and mouth) to clear the throat and airways from mucus or foreign irritants. It is normal to cough occasionally, but a cough that persists or happens with other symptoms may be a sign of a condition that needs treatment. Persistent cough is a common respiratory symptom but it can also indicate a disease of the heart, stomach, or nervous system.
Acute cough (lasts for <3 weeks) may be caused by the inhalation of irritants like fumes and vapors, a respiratory tract infection (eg, common cold, influenza, whooping cough, and acute bronchitis), hay fever or allergic rhinitis, asthma attack, acute exacerbation of pre-existing conditions (eg, asthma and COPD), lung clot or pulmonary embolism, lung collapse or pneumothorax, heart failure, pulmonary edema, post-nasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or a foreign body (eg, food). Chronic cough (lasts for >8 weeks) may be caused by asthma, COPD, chronic lung infections (eg, tuberculosis), lung cancer, and medications like ACE inhibitors (eg, lisinopril, captopril, enalapril, and ramipril). Dry or nonproductive cough produces little or no mucus or phlegm and is often itchy to the throat. A productive cough is characterized by a ‘rattly’ or ‘tight’ chest and is accompanied by expulsion of mucus or phlegm. Risk factors for developing a cough include cigarette smoking, allergies, exposure to someone with respiratory tract infections, environmental factors (eg, air irritants, pollution, coal), chronic lung diseases (eg, asthma and COPD), and female gender.

* Click below to view Patient Counselling Guide in Thai