Chronic Cough

What is chronic cough?

When the cough lasts more than a month in children and couple of months in adults

What are the causes of chronic cough?

Acid reflux

Laryngopharyngeal reflux

Environmental pollution

Whooping cough

Viral, fungal and bacterial respiratory infections

Exposure to irritants

Pulmonary emboli

Aortic aneurysm

Allergies

Asthma

Tobacco usage

Postnasal drip

Sinusitis

Nasal polyps

Upper airway cough syndrome

Rhinitis

Fibrosing alveolitis

Sleep apnoea

Vocal cord dysfunction

Cough hypersensitivity syndrome

Ciliary dyskinesia

Chronic bronchitis

Emphysema

Bronchiectasis

Pulmonary fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis

Certain medications – ACE inhibitors

Sarcoidosis

Eosinophilic bronchitis

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Lung cancer

Psychogenic

How chronic cough is diagnosed?

Physical examination

Medical history evaluation

Environmental and Occupational assessment

Differential diagnosis based on diagnostic outcomes

Lab tests – Blood Cultures, Serology, Molecular Tests, Immunoassays, Allergy Tests, Exhaled Nitric Oxide, Autoantibodies, Sweat test, ESR, CRP,

Methacholine challenge test

Oesophageal pH testing

Lung function tests – Spirometry

Medical imaging – X-Ray scan of chest, High Resolution CT, Sinus Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Angiography, Ultrasound, Echocardiogram, Bronchoscopy, Rhinoscopy, Esophagram, Videomicroscopy, Quantitative transmission electron microscopy, Sinus imaging

How chronic cough is treated?

Treatment is aimed at curing the underlying condition

Treatment of asthma – Inhaled Corticosteroids, Glucocorticoids, Adrenocortical steroids, Beta2-agonists, Leukotriene modifiers, Cromones, Bronchodilator, Long-acting beta agonists & Theophylline

Treatment of COPD – Beta-agonists, Corticosteroids, Anticholinergics

Treatment of GERD – Antihistamines, Histamine-2 blocker, Proton Pump Inhibitors, Alginates, Prokinetic agents

Treatment of eosinophilic bronchitis – Glucocorticoids

Treatment of hay fever / rhinitis – Antihistamines, Glucocorticoids

Bacterial infections – Antibiotics

Treating rhinitis – Anti Histamines, Oral Decongestants, Nasal Steroids and Adrenocortical steroids

Alternative medication for high blood pressure if the chronic cough is due to ACE inhibitor drugs

Other medications – Decongestants, Mucoprotective agents, Codeine, Nasal Spray, Pholcodine, Dextromethorphan, Methadone and Morphine; Gabapentin or Pregabalin, Mucolytics

Speech therapy

How to prevent chronic cough?

Quitting smoking

Eating plenty of fruits and fibre rich foods

Having plenty of fluids in the form of water, soups and fresh fruit juices

How to get relief from chronic cough?

Wear facial mask when outdoors

Use humidifier at home

Gargle salt water

Use extra pillows on the bed while sleeping

Use lozenges or hard candies

Use oral decongestants & non-opioid cough suppressants

Improve indoor air quality

Virinchi Hopitals is the best super speciality hospital in hyderabad with well experienced Pulmonologists in hyderabad.rnThe Department of Pulmonary provides diagnosis of and treatment for patients with illnesses that affect the lungs, breathing and sleep disorders which makes us rank amongst the best Lungs Specialist Hospital in Hyderabad. The department of Pumonology is well-equipped with robust technology to provide a comprehensive & holistic care both for the outpatients and patients admitted to the hospital, including the ICUs, therefore Virinchi Hospital is considered to be one of the Best Lungs Specialist Hospital in Hyderabad.