Aetiology

Cough may result from multiple aetiologies:

• acute cough
  • most common cause is viral upper respiratory tract infection (1)
  • other causes include:
    • asthma
    • pneumonia
    • acute exacerbation of a preexisting condition such as asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD
    • acute bronchitis (2)
    • serious conditions such as neoplasms, foreign body inhalation, infections (tuberculosis), anaphylaxis due to acute allergy (1)
• subacute cough
  • usually precedes an acute upper respiratory tract infection
• chronic cough - some causes of persistent or recurrent cough include:
  • the most common causes of chronic cough are UACS (upper airway cough syndrome) due to a variety of rhinosinus conditions, asthma, and GORD (3)
  • bronchitis:
    • viral
    • chemical e.g. smoke
    • secondary bacterial bronchitis
  • specific infections e.g. mycoplasma, pertussis, tuberculosis
  • suppurative lung disease:
    • bronchiectasis
    • cystic fibrosis
    • secondary lung collapse (foreign body)
    • Kartagener's syndrome
  • drug induced - particularly ACE inhibitors and dry cough
  • focal lesions:
    • inhaled foreign body
    • lung carcinoma
  • psychological illness
  • pulmonary oedema
  • pleural disease
  • smoking
  • tracheitis
  • vocal cord palsy

Reference:

1. Morice AH et al. Recommendations for the management of cough in adults. Thorax. 2006;61 Suppl 1:i1-24
2. Pratter MR, et al. An empiric integrative approach to the management of cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2006;129(1 Suppl):222S-231S
3. Pratter MR. Overview of common causes of chronic cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2006 Jan;129(1 Suppl):59S-62S. doi: 10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.59S.