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Chronic Cough

Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks in adults (or more than 4 weeks in children). Unlike an acute cough, which usually occurs due to infections like the common cold, chronic cough can be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires evaluation and long-term management.

Common Causes

• Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) – postnasal drip due to allergic rhinitis or sinusitis
• Asthma – especially cough-variant asthma
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – acid reflux triggering cough
• Chronic bronchitis – often seen in smokers
• Eosinophilic bronchitis – inflammation without asthma-like wheezing
• Medication-related – ACE inhibitors are a common cause
• Infections – such as pertussis, TB, or fungal infections
• Bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, or lung cancer

Complications of Untreated Chronic Cough

• Sleep disturbance
• Urinary incontinence
• Fatigue and headache
• Rib fractures (rare but possible)
• Social embarrassment or isolation