cough
Start with the big picture
Cough is classified by duration as acute (less than 3 weeks), sub-acute (3–8 weeks), or chronic (more than 8 weeks); this helps guide evaluation, and chronic cough may have more than one cause. Dyspnea, hemoptysis, fever of 38 °C or higher, weight loss, and immunosuppression are alarm features warranting urgent referral. Common causes include upper respiratory tract infection, asthma, post-nasal drip, GERD, ACE-inhibitor use, COPD, and smoking. Management begins with identifying and treating the underlying cause. Hydration, humidified air, warm fluids, and avoiding irritants may support symptom relief. Medicines are adjuncts: cough suppressants are intended for dry, disruptive cough, while suppressing a productive cough may retain secretions. The deeper lesson explores evaluation, treatment choices, and special considerations.
What you'll learn
- Classify cough by duration and relate classification to evaluation.
- Identify alarm features that call for urgent referral.
- Recognize common causes of acute and chronic cough.
- Distinguish supportive care from cause-directed and symptomatic treatment.
- Describe why cough suppressants may be inappropriate for productive cough.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
