Chronic Cough in Adults Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Last updated by Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP
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Professional Reference articles are designed for health professionals to use. They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. You may find the Chronic Persistent Cough in Adults article more useful, or one of our other health articles.

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Treatment of almost all medical conditions has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. NICE has issued rapid update guidelines in relation to many of these. This guidance is changing frequently. Please visit https://www.nice.org.uk/covid-19 to see if there is temporary guidance issued by NICE in relation to the management of this condition, which may vary from the information given below.

Cough is a nonspecific reaction to irritation anywhere from the pharynx to the lungs. Cough can be divided into acute self-limiting cough, lasting less than three weeks, or chronic persistent cough, which usually lasts for more than eight weeks. Cough lasting for an intermediate period of 3-8 weeks is called subacute cough.[1] Unexplained chronic cough causes significant impairments in quality of life.[2]

  • The estimated global prevalence of chronic cough is 2-18%.[3]
  • When severe, it causes a major adverse effect in the quality of life with comorbidity such as incontinence, cough syncope and dysphonia, leading to social isolation, depression, and difficulties in relationships.[4]
  • Risk factors include atopy and smoking. Cough may be work-related and a thorough occupation history is very important in assessment.
  • Despite thorough investigation and empirical management, a considerable proportion of people with subacute and chronic cough have unexplained cough, for which treatment options are limited.[5]

The cough reflex is triggered by mechanical or inflammatory changes or irritants in the airways. The afferent pathway is via the vagus nerve to respiratory neurons termed the 'cough centre' in the brain stem. Higher cortical centres also control the cough. Chronic cough tends to be inhibited during sleep.

Chronic cough is often associated with bronchial hyper-reactivity (bronchial hyper-responsiveness), which can persist in the absence of the initiating cough event. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness is defined as a state of increased sensitivity to a wide variety of airway-narrowing stimuli - eg, exercise, dry or cold air and hypertonic or hypotonic aerosols. It occurs in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also can occur in the absence of lung disease.

Most cases of troublesome cough reflect the presence of an aggravant (asthma, drugs, environmental, gastro-oesophageal reflux,[9] upper airway pathology) in a susceptible individual. The most common causes of chronic cough, other than smoking in adults, are postnasal drip, asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Chronic refractory cough also often occurs after a viral infection.[10]

Common causes of chronic cough

  • Smoking (active or passive).
  • Asthma (and its variants, ie cough-variant asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis) - all of which are steroid-responsive.
  • COPD.
  • GORD.
  • Postnasal drip.
  • Environmental pollution, especially PM10 particulates (particles of 10 micrometres or fewer).
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
  • Occupational exposure to irritants (including farm workers, workers exposed to hot acidic conditions in a bottle factory, and workers exposed to hot chilli peppers).
  • Whooping cough - a possible cause in adults. However, a test of treatment is not feasible, antibiotics do not affect the course of the disease if they are given more than seven days into the illness, and 27% of infected adults will still be coughing at 90 days, with no evidence that intervention alters this.[11]

Less common causes

History

  • Nature of cough - dry, sputum, blood.
  • Pattern of cough - duration, frequency, nocturnal, association with eating or talking.
  • Atopy - note if there is any history of this.
  • Smoking and occupation.
  • Drugs (especially ACE inhibitors).
  • Red flags (see box).
'Red flag' symptoms in chronic cough[6]
  • Copious sputum production (bronchiectasis).
  • Systemic symptoms - fever, sweats, weight loss (tuberculosis, lymphoma, bronchial carcinoma).
  • Haemoptysis (tuberculosis, bronchial carcinoma).
  • Significant dyspnoea (heart failure, COPD, fibrotic lung disease, bronchial carcinoma).

In the context of considering the possible diagnosis of cancer, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends arranging a CXR for any patient presenting with:[15]

  • Unexplained cough, aged 40 years and over, who has ever smoked (possible lung cancer or mesothelioma).
  • Unexplained cough, aged 40 and over, with a history of exposure to asbestos (possible mesothelioma).
  • Unexplained cough, aged 40 and over, with any one of the following: fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, unexplained weight loss or unexplained loss of appetite (possible lung cancer or mesothelioma).

NICE also recommends referring people using a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within two weeks) for lung cancer if they:

  • Have CXR findings that suggest lung cancer; or
  • Are aged 40 and over with unexplained haemoptysis.

Examination

  • Systemic signs - eg, fever, weight loss, clubbing, lymphadenopathy.
  • Upper airway signs - eg, hoarseness, nasal speech.
  • Focal chest signs.
  • Cardiovascular system.
  • Peak expiratory flow rate.
Common causes of cough and their symptoms[1, 6]
AsthmaGastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)Postnasal drip syndrome
  • History of atopy.
  • Nocturnal cough.
  • Wheeze.
  • Peak flow rate variable by >20% or reversible changes on spirometry (these 'rule in' asthma but their absence does not rule it out).
  • Heartburn (but may have no gastrointestinal symptoms).
  • Cough worse at night.
  • Cough when eating/talking.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Sour taste.
  • Subjective symptoms - postnasal drip, having a recurrent need to clear the throat.
  • Persistent nasal blockage.
  • Persistent nasal discharge.

Studies have shown a low frequency of serious pulmonary conditions in patients who have an isolated chronic dry cough and normal physical examination, CXR and spirogram.[7]

A suggested strategy for primary care, using the principle of diagnosis by 'test of treatment' is:

  • History and examination. Look for 'red flags' which require early investigation (see box).
  • Assuming there are no red flags, obvious cause or abnormal signs on examination, proceed as follows:
    • For smokers, initial investigations are CXR and spirometry, with advice to stop smoking. If smoking is the cause, cough should improve within eight weeks of smoking cessation.
    • For non-smokers, if taking an ACE inhibitor, trial of stopping/replacing this drug. ACE inhibitor-induced cough should improve within four weeks of stopping the drug. Then consider CXR and spirometry (or serial peak flow measurements, if spirometry is unavailable).
  • Assess the likely diagnosis and refer/instigate trial of treatment accordingly:
    • Serious disease? - refer to the chest clinic.
    • Asthma? - see the separate Asthma article.
    • GORD? - trial of high-dose proton pump inhibitors (may require up to 12 weeks for improvement).
    • Postnasal drip syndrome? - trial of antihistamines or nasal steroids.

Next steps

  • Blood tests - FBC (infection, eosinophilia), ESR/CRP (infection, malignancy, connective tissue disorders).
  • Assess for other contributing factors - eg, reflux disease, rhinitis, occupation (there may be more than one factor causing chronic cough). Try treating these (or removing the cause, if occupational) for a limited period to observe response.

Possible further investigations in secondary care[18]
These include:

  • Bronchial provocation testing (methacholine or histamine) - positive result supports diagnosis of asthma but cough may be steroid-responsive even if negative.
  • Assess for eosinophilic airway inflammation - by induced sputum analysis or trial of steroids (prednisolone 30 mg daily for two weeks).
  • Bronchoscopy - if inhalation of a foreign body is suspected, or where common causes have been excluded.
  • Echocardiogram or other cardiac investigations - if a cardiac cause is suspected clinically.
  • 24-hour ambulatory oesophageal pH testing and/or oesophageal manometry.
  • Radiology of sinuses - eg, CT or MRI scanning.
  • High-resolution CT scan of thorax - however, there is low diagnostic yield in this scenario.

Assessment of response
May use a cough assessment tool such as the cough visual analogue scale or the Leicester Cough Questionnaire.[19]

  • Treat the underlying cause(s), if possible (see 'Initial assessment, investigation and treatment in primary care' and 'Further assessment' sections, above).
  • A 'trial of treatment' strategy is often appropriate, ensuring that each treatment is used for a sufficient time - eg, eight weeks for inhaled steroids, 12 weeks for anti-reflux treatment.[6]
  • Smoking cessation; avoid exposure to irritants.
  • If initial management is unsuccessful, referral to secondary care may be required. This may involve a chest physician, ENT specialist and/or gastroenterologist, depending on the individual context.[16]

Symptomatic treatment of chronic cough

Drug treatment[20]
There are various drugs which may partially suppress cough and chronic cough, although the cough reflex is exceedingly difficult to abolish. Also, there is a lack of evidence for the efficacy of most antitussive drugs. British Thoracic Society guidelines state: "There are no effective treatments controlling the cough response per se with an acceptable therapeutic ratio."[16]

When there is no identifiable cause, cough suppressants may be useful, particularly if sleep is disturbed. They may cause sputum retention and this may be harmful in patients with chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis.

Codeine may be effective but can cause dependence. Dextromethorphan and pholcodine have fewer side-effects. Sedating antihistamines are used as the cough suppressant component of many compound cough preparations on sale to the public. Morphine or diamorphine at higher doses may be used for severe, distressing cough in palliative care.

Mucolytics (eg, carbocisteine or erdosteine) are prescribed to facilitate expectoration by reducing sputum viscosity. In some patients with COPD and a chronic productive cough, mucolytics can reduce exacerbations. Mucolytic therapy should be stopped if there is no benefit after a four-week trial. Steam inhalation with postural drainage is effective in bronchiectasis and in some cases of chronic bronchitis.

Demulcent cough preparations contain soothing substances such as syrup or glycerol and may be used to relieve a dry irritating cough. Preparations such as simple linctus have the advantage of being harmless and inexpensive.

Expectorants are claimed to promote expulsion of bronchial secretions but there is no evidence that any drug can specifically facilitate expectoration.

Centrally acting neuromodulators such as gabapentin and pregabalin may be useful for chronic refractory cough.[10]

Non-drug treatments
Speech therapy techniques have shown benefit for chronic refractory cough.[10]

Complications associated with cough include:

  • Cough syncope.
  • Depression, anxiety, anger/frustration.
  • Difficulties in relationships.
  • Disturbed sleep.
  • Dysphonia.
  • Fatigue.
  • Reduced quality of life.
  • Social isolation.
  • Stress urinary incontinence.

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Further reading and references

  1. Chung KF, Pavord ID; Prevalence, pathogenesis, and causes of chronic cough. Lancet. 2008 Apr 19371(9621):1364-74.

  2. Gibson P, Wang G, McGarvey L, et al; Treatment of Unexplained Chronic Cough: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2016 Jan149(1):27-44. doi: 10.1378/chest.15-1496. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

  3. Morice A, Dicpinigaitis P, McGarvey L, et al; Chronic cough: new insights and future prospects. Eur Respir Rev. 2021 Nov 3030(162). pii: 30/162/210127. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0127-2021. Print 2021 Dec 31.

  4. Morice AH, Millqvist E, Bieksiene K, et al; ERS guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in adults and children. Eur Respir J. 2020 Jan 255(1). pii: 13993003.01136-2019. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01136-2019. Print 2020 Jan.

  5. Johnstone KJ, Chang AB, Fong KM, et al; Inhaled corticosteroids for subacute and chronic cough in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28(3):CD009305. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009305.pub2.

  6. Barraclough K; Chronic cough in adults. BMJ. 2009 Apr 24338:b1218. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b1218.

  7. Pavord ID, Chung KF; Management of chronic cough. Lancet. 2008 Apr 19371(9621):1375-84.

  8. Cough; NICE CKS, May 2021 (UK access only)

  9. Tokayer AZ; Gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic cough. Lung. 2008186 Suppl 1:S29-34. Epub 2008 Jan 24.

  10. Gibson PG, Vertigan AE; Management of chronic refractory cough. BMJ. 2015 Dec 14351:h5590. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h5590.

  11. Barraclough K; Chronic cough in adults. BMJ 2009338:b1218.

  12. Ryan NM, Vertigan AE, Gibson PG; Chronic cough and laryngeal dysfunction improve with specific treatment of cough and paradoxical vocal fold movement. Cough. 2009 Mar 175:4.

  13. Stec SM, Grabczak EM, Bielicki P, et al; Diagnosis and management of premature ventricular complexes-associated chronic cough. Chest. 2009 Jun135(6):1535-41. Epub 2009 Mar 24.

  14. Bucca CB, Culla B, Guida G, et al; Unexplained chronic cough and vitamin B-12 deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar93(3):542-8. Epub 2011 Jan 19.

  15. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral; NICE guideline (2015 - last updated October 2023)

  16. Morice AH, McGarvey L, Pavord I; Recommendations for the management of cough in adults. Thorax. 2006 Sep61 Suppl 1:i1-24.

  17. Morice AH, McGarvey L, Pavord I; Protocol for the evaluation of chronic cough in an adult. Thorax 200661(suppl_1):i1-i24.

  18. Morice AH, McGarvey L, Pavord I; Protocol for the evaluation of chronic cough in an adult Part 2. Thorax 2006

  19. Spinou A, Birring SS; An update on measurement and monitoring of cough: what are the important study endpoints? J Thorac Dis. 2014 Oct6(Suppl 7):S728-34. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.10.08.

  20. British National Formulary (BNF); NICE Evidence Services (UK access only)

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