Cough characteristic | Suggested underlying pathology[1,2] |
Barking or brassy cough | Tracheomalacia, tic cough/somatic cough disorder*, croup (if acute) |
Honking or "goose-like" cough | Tracheomalacia, tic cough/somatic cough disorder* |
Paroxysmal cough (with or without inspiratory whoop) | Pertussis and parapertussis |
Staccato cough | Chlamydia in infants |
Cough productive of casts | Plastic bronchitis and conditions associated with mucus plugs such as ABPA |
Chronic wet or productive cough only in the mornings | Suppurative lung diseases (eg, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis) |
Wet or productive cough | Presence of endobronchial secretions |
ABPA: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
* Tic cough is sometimes termed "habit cough." Somatic cough disorder was previously known as "psychogenic cough." Although these types of cough have distinct definitions, they cannot always be distinguished clinically and the initial approach to management is similar, unless clear markers of somatic cough disorder are present[3].Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?