Last reviewed: 7 Apr 2025
Last updated: 28 Jan 2025

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
Tomasz J. Kuzniar

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

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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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