What is a cough?
- Coughing is the body's way of removing foreign material or mucous from the lungs and throat.
- Patients seek medical treatment for cough more than any other complaint and treatment costs exceed $1 billion dollars annually in the U.S.
- The two general classifications of cough are productive coughs (producing phlegm or mucous from the lungs) and nonproductive coughs (dry and not producing any mucous or phlegm).
- Coughs are also divided into acute (less than 3 weeks' duration) and chronic (more than three weeks' duration).

Some causes of coughing
- Acute cough is most often caused by the common viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cough is usually secondary to stimulation of nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa receptors. This results from the secretions of the nose and sinuses draining into the throat.
- A dry cough may follow viral illnesses and may last up to several weeks.
- Chronic cough may be caused by a variety of underlying diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, allergies, GERD and chronic post nasal drip.
- Smoking is a major cause of chronic cough.
- Certain medications (ACE inhibitors for hypertension) cause coughing as a side effect.

Treatment of coughs
- Treatment of a cough should be directed at the underlying cause of the cough.
- Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.
- Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- Expectorants are useful to help break and bring up mucous. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.

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This information is of a general nature and may not apply to your special circumstances. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician or an appropriate health care professional.  These monographs are counseling aids for healthcare professionals only and are not to be used as a reference to diagnose or treat medical conditions.          Copyright 2005 RXinsider LTD