A chronic cough is defined as a persistent cough that lasts more than 8 weeks (but often lasts for months or years). A persistent cough can be idiopathic (no cause is identified), a symptom of an underlying medical condition or even a side effect from certain medications. Some potential medical causes for a chronic cough include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- Chronic rhinitis or sinusitis
- Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
- Chronic eosinophilic bronchitis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Congestive heart failure
- Post nasal drip (PND)
- Certain medications (such as Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Sarcoidosis
- Smoking or chronic exposure to occupational chemicals
- Malignant or benign lung tumor
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Chronic infections
- Whooping cough
- Recurrent aspiration
- Tonsil enlargement or chronic tonsillitis
- Sleep apnea or other chronic snoring problems
- Partially collapsed lung
- Allergies (like severe pollen or scent allergy)
- Histoplasmosis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Tuberculosis
- Walking pneumonia
- Bronchiectasis (damaged airways)
If you are experiencing a cough that won’t go away, you should see your doctor soon for some diagnostic testing so he or she can rule out potentially serious causes and provide you with treatment. Or, our board certified physicians can also help you identify possible reasons for your cough and provide treatment. Thanks for visiting DocChat!
