A chronic cough is defined as a cough which lasts three weeks or more and requires medical evaluation. While chronic cough may often be  due to non-serious and treatable causes, it is crucial to determine the underlying cause to provide appropriate treatment.

Common Causes of Chronic Cough:

– Asthma

– Interstitial Lung disease

– Rhinitis and sinusitis
– Postnasal drip
– Acid reflux
– Chronic bronchitis
– Upper-Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS)
– Infections
– Bronchiectasis

Approach to Diagnosing Chronic Cough

The first step involves a detailed medical history and physical examination to identify possible causes.

Investigations :

Depending on initial findings, tests such as blood tests, allergy screens, CT scans, and lung function tests may be necessary to identify  the exact cause.

Management:

Most cases of chronic cough can be diagnosed and treated effectively based on these assessments . In some instances, no cause can be identified.