Cough

 

Summary

  • Coughing is the body's response to airway irritation.
  • Doctors classify a cough according to how long it has lasted. An acute cough lasts less than 3 weeks, a sub-acute cough lasts 3-8 weeks, and a chronic cough lasts more than 8 weeks.
 

Get me better

What should I do?

  • If you smoke, you should stop smoking.
  • If you have a cough that has lasted less than 3 weeks without severe symptoms, you can use self-care measures such as:
  1. Ensuring that you drink adequate fluids.
  2. Using over the counter paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any associated symptoms of pain and a high temperature.
  3. Having honey and hot lemon drinks to soothe an irritated throat.
  4. Over the counter cough medicines are unlikely to do you any harm, but there is little evidence that they are effective in reducing coughing.
  • If you have had a cough that has lasted for more than three weeks that has followed a respiratory tract infection such as a cold, you do not need to see a doctor straight away. You can use self-care measures if necessary to ease symptoms.
  • If a cough lasting longer than three weeks has not followed a respiratory tract infection, you should arrange to see your doctor who will assess you to determine the cause.
  • If you have had a cough for 8 weeks or longer, you should arrange to see your doctor so that serious causes can be ruled out.
  • If symptoms associated with a cough that has been present for any length of time are severe, or you have symptoms such as coughing up blood or chest pain, you should seek urgent medical advice.
  • If you are having difficulty breathing, you (or a person with you) should dial 999 for an ambulance

What medication should I take?

  • Symptoms of pain and a high temperature associated with colds and other respiratory tract infections can be treated with over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. 
  • A doctor might prescribe treatments for the underlying cause of a cough. These treatments might include antibiotics for a chest infection, inhalers for asthma and COPD, medicines that suppress the production of stomach acid for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and corticosteroid nasal sprays for upper airway cough syndrome
  • For more information, see Chest infection in adults, Chest infection in babies and children, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Dyspepsia - unidentified cause, Dyspepsia - proven GORD, Dyspepsia - proven non-ulcer, Dyspepsia - proven peptic ulcer disease and Allergic rhinitis.
  • If you are already being treated with an ACE-inhibitor, your doctor might change you to a different type of blood pressure medicine that is not known to cause a cough

Do I need to see a doctor?

  • If you have had a cough that has lasted for more than three weeks that has followed a respiratory tract infection such as a cold, you do not need to see a doctor straight away. You can use self-care measures if necessary to ease symptoms.
  • If a cough lasting longer than three weeks has not followed a respiratory tract infection, you should arrange to see your doctor who will assess you to determine the cause.
  • If you have had a cough for 8 weeks or longer, you should arrange to see your doctor so that serious causes can be ruled out.
  • If symptoms associated with a cough that has been present for any length of time are severe, or you have symptoms such as coughing up blood or chest pain, you should seek urgent medical advice.
  • If you are having difficulty breathing, you (or a person with you) should dial 999 for an ambulance

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