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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffChronic cough — one lasting eight weeks or longer — is more than just an annoyance. In addition to being physically draining, a chronic cough can alienate your family and co-workers, ruin your sleep, and leave you feeling angry and frustrated. Chronic cough is one of the most common complaints that people bring to their health care providers.
While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering your chronic cough, the most common causes of chronic cough are postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux — a frequent symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Chronic cough typically disappears once the underlying problem is treated.
- Silvestri RC, et al. Evaluation of subacute and chronic cough in adults. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 9, 2009
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 27, 2009.
- Approach to the patient with a cough. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/124735402-3/813991400/1288/241.html. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- Hill DG. Cough. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/124890287-5/814421311/1621/18.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50010-8--cesec4_130. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Weinberger SE, et al. Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Upper endoscopy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Bronchoscopy. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bron/bron_whatis.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Prednisone. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Natural medicines in the clinical management of cold and flu: Cough. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 10, 2009.
