Summary
Differentials
Common
- Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS; postnasal drip)
- Asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB)
- Chronic bronchitis/COPD
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor)
- Pneumonia
- Postinfectious cough
- Bordetella pertussis infection
Uncommon
- Lung cancer
- Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Recurrent aspiration
- Zenker diverticulum
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA)
- Foreign body
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Tropical filarial pulmonary eosinophilia
- Cough hypersensitivity syndrome (somatic cough, psychogenic cough, unexplained chronic cough, refractory chronic cough)
- Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)
Contributors
Authors
Tomasz J. Kuzniar, MD, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Endeavor Health
Evanston
IL
Disclosures
TJK is the author of an article cited in this topic.
Acknowledgements
Dr Tomasz J. Kuzniar would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Timothy I. Morgenthaler, a previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
TIM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Nawal Lutfiyya, MD
Director of Research
Assistant Professor
Family and Community Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago
IL
Disclosures
NL declares that she has no competing interests.
Graeme Currie, MD
Consultant Chest Physician
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen
Scotland
Disclosures
GC declares that he has no competing interests.
References
Key articles
Morice AH, Millqvist E, Bieksiene K, et al. ERS guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in adults and children. Eur Respir J. 2020 Jan;55(1):1901136.Full text Abstract
Canning BJ, Chang AB, Bolser DC, et al. Anatomy and neurophysiology of cough: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel report. Chest. 2014 Dec;146(6):1633-48.Full text Abstract
Global Initiative for Asthma. Global strategy for asthma management and prevention (2024 update). May 2024 [internet publication].Full text
American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: chronic cough. Nov 2021 [internet publication].Full text Abstract
Kahrilas PJ, Altman KW, Chang AB, et al. Chronic cough due to gastroesophageal reflux in adults: CHEST guideline and expert panel report. Chest. 2016 Dec;150(6):1341-60.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available here.
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