# Cough

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Sudden expulsion of air from the lungs as a reflex to clear irritants

Medical condition

Cough Pronunciation pronunciationⓘ Latin: tussis Specialty Pulmonology, otorhinolaryngology

[Coughing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Husten-abf-.ogg)

The sound of a person coughing.

*Problems playing this file? See [media help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Media).*

A **cough** is a sudden expulsion of air through the large breathing passages which can help clear them of fluids, irritants, foreign particles and [microbes](/source/Microorganism). As a protective [reflex](/source/Reflex), coughing can be repetitive with the [cough reflex](/source/Cough_reflex) following three phases: an [inhalation](/source/Inhalation), a forced [exhalation](/source/Exhalation) against a closed [glottis](/source/Glottis), and a violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive sound.[1] Coughing into one's elbow or toward the ground—rather than forward at breathing height—can reduce the spread of infectious droplets in the air.[2]

Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease. Many [viruses](/source/Virus) and [bacteria](/source/Bacteria) benefit, from an evolutionary perspective, by causing the [host](/source/Host_(biology)) to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts. Irregular coughing is usually caused by a [respiratory tract infection](/source/Respiratory_tract_infection) but can also be triggered by [choking](/source/Choking), [smoking](/source/Smoking), [air pollution](/source/Air_pollution),[1] [asthma](/source/Asthma), [gastroesophageal reflux disease](/source/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease), [post-nasal drip](/source/Post-nasal_drip), [chronic bronchitis](/source/Bronchitis#Chronic_bronchitis), [lung tumors](/source/Lung_tumors), [heart failure](/source/Heart_failure) and medications such as [angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)](/source/ACE_inhibitors) and [beta blockers](/source/Beta_blocker).[3]

Treatment should target the cause; for example, [smoking cessation](/source/Smoking_cessation) or discontinuing ACE inhibitors. [Cough suppressants](/source/Cough_suppressant) such as [codeine](/source/Codeine) or [dextromethorphan](/source/Dextromethorphan) are frequently prescribed, but are not recommended for children. Other treatment options may target airway [inflammation](/source/Inflammation) or may [promote mucus expectoration](/source/Mucoactive_agent). As it is a natural protective reflex, suppressing the cough reflex might have damaging effects, especially if the cough is productive (producing [phlegm](/source/Phlegm)).[4]

## Presentation

[Shadowgraph](/source/Shadowgraph) videos of the outer airflow during a cough, comparing unmasked coughing with several methods of covering one's mouth and nose: coughing into a fist, a cupped hand, a tissue, a "coughcatcher" device, a [surgical mask](/source/Surgical_mask), and an [N95 mask](/source/N95_mask)

### Complications

The complications of coughing can be classified as either [acute](/source/Acute_(medicine)) or [chronic](/source/Chronic_(medical)). Acute complications include cough syncope ([fainting](/source/Fainting) spells due to decreased blood flow to the brain when coughs are prolonged and forceful), [insomnia](/source/Insomnia), cough-induced [vomiting](/source/Vomiting), [subconjunctival hemorrhage](/source/Subconjunctival_hemorrhage) or "[red eye](/source/Red_eye_(medicine))", coughing [defecation](/source/Defecation) and in women with a [prolapsed](/source/Prolapse) [uterus](/source/Uterus), cough [urination](/source/Urination). Chronic complications are common and include abdominal or pelvic [hernias](/source/Hernia), fatigue [fractures](/source/Fracture) of lower ribs and [costochondritis](/source/Costochondritis). Chronic or violent coughing can contribute to damage to the pelvic floor and a possible [cystocele](/source/Cystocele).[5]

## Differential diagnosis

A cough in children may be either a normal physiological reflex or due to an underlying cause.[6] In healthy children it may be normal in the absence of any disease to cough ten times a day.[6] The most common cause of an acute or subacute cough is a viral [respiratory tract infection](/source/Respiratory_tract_infection).[6] A healthy adult also coughs 18.6 times a day on average, but in the population with respiratory disease the geometric mean frequency is 275 times a day.[7] In adults with a chronic cough, i.e. a cough longer than 8 weeks, more than 90% of cases are due to [post-nasal drip](/source/Post-nasal_drip), [asthma](/source/Asthma), [eosinophilic bronchitis](/source/Eosinophilic_bronchitis), and [gastroesophageal reflux disease](/source/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease).[6] The causes of chronic cough are similar in children with the addition of [bacterial bronchitis](/source/Bronchitis).[6]

### Infections

A cough can be the result of a [respiratory tract infection](/source/Respiratory_tract_infections) such as the [common cold](/source/Common_cold), [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19), [acute bronchitis](/source/Acute_bronchitis), [pneumonia](/source/Pneumonia), [pertussis](/source/Pertussis), or [tuberculosis](/source/Tuberculosis). In the vast majority of cases, acute coughs, i.e. coughs shorter than 3 weeks, are due to the common cold.[8] In people with a normal chest X-ray, tuberculosis is a rare finding. Pertussis is increasingly being recognised as a cause of troublesome coughing in adults.

After a respiratory tract infection has cleared, the person may be left with a [postinfectious cough](/source/Post-viral_cough). This typically is a dry, non-productive cough that produces no [phlegm](/source/Phlegm). Symptoms may include a tightness in the chest, and a tickle in the throat. This cough may often persist for weeks after an illness. The cause of the cough may be inflammation similar to that observed in repetitive stress disorders such as [carpal tunnel syndrome](/source/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome). The repetition of coughing produces inflammation which produces discomfort, which in turn produces more coughing.[9] Postinfectious cough typically does not respond to conventional cough treatments. Medication used for postinfectious coughs may include [ipratropium](/source/Ipratropium)[9] to treat the inflammation, as well as cough suppressants to reduce frequency of the cough until inflammation clears.[10] Inflammation may increase sensitivity to other existing issues such as [allergies](/source/Allergies), and treatment of other causes of coughs (such as use of an air purifier or allergy medicines) may help speed recovery.[11]

### Reactive airway disease

When coughing is the only complaint of a person who meets the criteria for asthma ([bronchial hyperresponsiveness](/source/Bronchial_hyperresponsiveness) and reversibility), this is termed [cough-variant asthma](/source/Cough-variant_asthma). Atopic cough and [eosinophilic bronchitis](/source/Eosinophilic_bronchitis) are related conditions. Atopic cough occurs in individuals with a [family history](/source/Family_history) of [atopy](/source/Atopy) (an allergic condition), abundant [eosinophils](/source/Eosinophils) in the sputum, but with normal airway function and responsiveness. Eosinophilic bronchitis is characterized by [eosinophils](/source/Eosinophils) in sputum and in [bronchoalveolar lavage](/source/Bronchoalveolar_lavage) fluid without airway hyperresponsiveness or an atopic background.[12] This condition responds to treatment with [corticosteroids](/source/Corticosteroids). Cough can also worsen in an [acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease](/source/Acute_exacerbation_of_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease).

Asthma is a common cause of chronic cough in adults and children. Coughing may be the only symptom the person has from their asthma, or asthma symptoms may also include wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in their chest. Depending on how severe the asthma is, it can be treated with bronchodilators (medicine which causes the airways to open up) or inhaled steroids. Treatment of the asthma should make the cough go away.

[Chronic bronchitis](/source/Bronchitis#Chronic_bronchitis) is defined clinically as a persistent cough that produces sputum (phlegm) and mucus, for at least three months in two consecutive years. Chronic bronchitis is often the cause of "[smoker's cough](/source/Smoker's_cough)". The tobacco smoke causes inflammation, secretion of mucus into the airway, and difficulty clearing that mucus out of the airways. Coughing helps clear those secretions out. May be treated by quitting smoking. May also be caused by [pneumoconiosis](/source/Pneumoconiosis) and long-term fume inhalation.

### Gastroesophageal reflux

In people with unexplained cough, [gastroesophageal reflux disease](/source/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease) should be considered.[6] This occurs when acidic contents of the stomach come back up into the esophagus. Symptoms usually associated with [GERD](/source/GERD) include heartburn, sour taste in the mouth, or a feeling of acid reflux in the chest, although, more than half of the people with cough from GERD do not have any other symptoms. An esophageal pH monitor can confirm the diagnosis of GERD. Sometimes GERD can complicate respiratory ailments related to cough, such as asthma or bronchitis. The treatment involves anti-acid medications and lifestyle changes with surgery indicated in cases not manageable with conservative measures.

### Air pollution

Coughing may be caused by [air pollution](/source/Air_pollution) including [tobacco smoke](/source/Tobacco_smoke), particulate matter, irritant gases, and dampness in a home.[6] The human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree of exposure, the individual's health status and genetics. People who exercise outdoors on hot, smoggy days, for example, increase their exposure to pollutants in the air.

### Foreign body

A [foreign body](/source/Foreign_body) can sometimes be suspected, for example if the cough started suddenly when the patient was eating. Rarely, sutures left behind inside the airway branches can cause coughing. A cough can be triggered by dryness from [mouth breathing](/source/Mouth_breathing) or recurrent aspiration of food into the [windpipe](/source/Vertebrate_trachea) in people with [swallowing difficulties](/source/Dysphagia).[13][14]

### Drug-induced cough

Drugs used for treatments other than coughs, such as [ACE inhibitors](/source/ACE_inhibitor) which are often used to treat [high blood pressure](/source/Hypertension), can sometimes cause cough as a side effect, and stopping their use will stop the cough.[15] Beta blockers similarly cause cough as an adverse event.[3]

### Habit cough

A [habit cough](/source/Habit_cough) is one that responds to behavioral or psychiatric therapy after organic causes have been excluded. Absence of the cough during sleep is common, but not diagnostic. A tic cough is thought to be more common in children than in adults.[16]

### Neurogenic cough

Some cases of chronic cough may be attributed to a sensory neuropathic disorder.[17] Treatment for neurogenic cough may include the use of certain neuralgia medications. Coughing may occur in [tic disorders](/source/Tic_disorder) such as [Tourette syndrome](/source/Tourette_syndrome), although it should be distinguished from throat-clearing in this disorder.

### Other

Cough may also be caused by conditions affecting the lung tissue such as [bronchiectasis](/source/Bronchiectasis), [cystic fibrosis](/source/Cystic_fibrosis), [interstitial lung diseases](/source/Interstitial_lung_disease) and [sarcoidosis](/source/Sarcoidosis). Coughing can also be triggered by [benign](/source/Benign) or [malignant lung tumors](/source/Lung_cancer) or mediastinal masses. Through irritation of the nerve, diseases of the external auditory canal (wax, for example) can also cause cough. Cardiovascular diseases associated with cough are heart failure, pulmonary infarction and aortic aneurysm. Nocturnal cough is associated with heart failure, as the [left ventricle](/source/Left_ventricle) doesn't effectively pump blood forward, resulting in blood being backed up in the [pulmonary veins](/source/Pulmonary_veins), which in turn causing [pulmonary edema](/source/Pulmonary_edema) and resultant cough.[18] Other causes of nocturnal cough include [asthma](/source/Asthma), [post-nasal drip](/source/Post-nasal_drip) and [gastroesophageal reflux disease](/source/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease) (GERD).[19] Another cause of cough occurring preferentially in [supine position](/source/Supine_position) is recurrent aspiration.[18] Cough can also be a symptom of [mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)](/source/Mast_cell_activation_syndrome).[20]

Given its irritant nature to mammal tissues, [capsaicin](/source/Capsaicin) is widely used to determine the cough threshold and as a tussive stimulant in clinical research of cough suppressants. Capsaicin is what makes [chili peppers](/source/Chili_pepper) spicy, and might explain why workers in factories with these fruits can develop a cough.

Coughing may also be used for social reasons, and as such is not always involuntary. A voluntary cough, often written as "ahem", can be used to attract attention or express displeasure, as a form of [nonverbal](/source/Nonverbal), [paralingual](/source/Paralingual) [metacommunication](/source/Metacommunication).[21][22]

### Airway clearance

Further information: [Airway clearance therapy](/source/Airway_clearance_therapy)

Coughing, and [huffing](/source/Airway_clearance_therapy) are important ways of removing mucus as [sputum](/source/Sputum) in many conditions such as [cystic fibrosis](/source/Cystic_fibrosis), and [chronic bronchitis](/source/Bronchitis#Chronic_bronchitis).

## Pathophysiology

Coughing is viewed as a public health issue.

A cough is a protective [reflex](/source/Reflex) in healthy individuals which is influenced by [psychological](/source/Psychological) factors.[6] The cough reflex is initiated by stimulation of two different classes of [afferent nerves](/source/Afferent_nerve), namely the [myelinated](/source/Myelin) rapidly adapting receptors, and nonmyelinated [C-fibers](/source/Group_C_nerve_fiber) with endings in the [lung](/source/Lung).[23]

## Diagnostic approach

The type of cough may help in the diagnosis. For instance, an inspiratory "whooping" sound on coughing almost doubles the likelihood that the illness is [pertussis](/source/Pertussis).

[Blood](/source/Hemoptysis) may occur in small amounts with severe cough of many causes, but larger amounts suggests [bronchitis](/source/Bronchitis), [bronchiectasis](/source/Bronchiectasis), [tuberculosis](/source/Tuberculosis), or primary [lung cancer](/source/Lung_cancer).[24]

Further [workup](/source/Diagnostic_workup) may include labs, [x-rays](/source/X-rays), and [spirometry](/source/Spirometry).[6]

### Classification

A cough can be classified by its duration, character, quality, and timing.[6] The duration can be either [acute](/source/Acute_(medicine)) (of sudden onset) if it is present less than three weeks, [subacute](/source/Subacute) if it is present between three or eight weeks, and [chronic](/source/Chronic_(medicine)) when lasting longer than eight weeks.[6] A cough can be non-productive (dry) or productive (when [phlegm](/source/Phlegm) is produced that may be coughed up as [sputum](/source/Sputum)). It may occur only at night (then called *nocturnal cough*), during both night and day, or just during the day.[6]

A number of characteristic coughs exist. While these have not been found to be diagnostically useful in adults, they are of use in children.[6] A barky cough is part of the common presentation of [croup](/source/Croup).[25] A staccato cough has been classically described with [neonatal](/source/Infant) [chlamydial](/source/Chlamydia) [pneumonia](/source/Pneumonia).[26]

## Treatment

This section is missing information about treatment in adults. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (December 2018)

The treatment of a cough in children is based on the underlying cause. In children half of cases go away without treatment in 10 days and 90% in 25 days.[27]

According to the [American Academy of Pediatrics](/source/American_Academy_of_Pediatrics) the use of [cough medicine](/source/Cough_medicine) to relieve cough symptoms is supported by little evidence and thus not recommended for treating cough symptoms in children.[6] There is tentative evidence that the use of honey is better than no treatment or [diphenhydramine](/source/Diphenhydramine) in decreasing coughing.[28] It does not alleviate coughing to the same extent as [dextromethorphan](/source/Dextromethorphan) but it shortens the cough duration better than placebo and [salbutamol](/source/Salbutamol).[28] A trial of [antibiotics](/source/Antibiotics) or [inhaled corticosteroids](/source/Inhaled_corticosteroid) may be tried in children with a chronic cough in an attempt to treat [protracted bacterial bronchitis](/source/Protracted_bacterial_bronchitis) or [asthma](/source/Asthma) respectively.[6] There is insufficient evidence to recommend treating children who have a cough that is not related to a specific condition with inhaled anti-cholinergics.[29]

Because coughing can spread disease through infectious aerosol droplets, it is recommended to cover one's mouth and nose with the forearm, the inside of the elbow, a tissue or a handkerchief while coughing.[30]

For cough relief, adults may take cough suppressants such as [dextromethorphan](/source/Dextromethorphan).[31]

Other common cough treatments include expectorants, decongestants, and antihistamines.[32][33]

## Epidemiology

A cough is the most common reason for visiting a [primary care physician](/source/Primary_care_physician) in the United States.[6]

## Other animals

A coughing deer hind

Marine mammals such as [dolphins](/source/Dolphins) and [whales](/source/Whales) cannot cough.[34] Some [invertebrates](/source/Invertebrates) such as [insects](/source/Insects) and [spiders](/source/Spiders) cannot cough or sneeze. [Crocodiles](/source/Crocodile) can cough.[35] Domestic animals and vertebrates such as [dogs](/source/Dogs) and [cats](/source/Cats) can cough, because of diseases, allergies, dust or choking.[36] In particular, cats are known for coughing before spitting up a [hairball](/source/Hairball).[36]

In other domestic animals, [horses](/source/Horses) can cough because of infections, or due to poor ventilation and dust in enclosed spaces.[37] [Kennel cough](/source/Kennel_cough) in [dogs](/source/Dog) can result from a viral or bacterial infection.

Deer can cough similarly to humans as a result of respiratory tract infections, such as parasitic bronchitis caused by a species of *[Dictyocaulus](/source/Dictyocaulus)*.[38]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lancet-causes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lancet-causes_1-1) Chung KF, Pavord ID (April 2008). "Prevalence, pathogenesis, and causes of chronic cough". *Lancet*. **371** (9621): 1364–1374. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60595-4](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2808%2960595-4). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18424325](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18424325). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [7810980](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:7810980).

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid16428707_16-0)** Irwin RS, Glomb WB, Chang AB (January 2006). ["Habit cough, tic cough, and psychogenic cough in adult and pediatric populations: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines"](https://doi.org/10.1378%2Fchest.129.1_suppl.174S). *Chest*. **129** (1 Suppl): 174S–179S. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.174S](https://doi.org/10.1378%2Fchest.129.1_suppl.174S). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16428707](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16428707).

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-honey_28-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-honey_28-1) Oduwole, O; Udoh, EE; Oyo-Ita, A; Meremikwu, MM (10 April 2018). ["Honey for acute cough in children"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6513626). *The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*. **4** (12) CD007094. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub5](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F14651858.CD007094.pub5). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6513626](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6513626). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29633783](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29633783).

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*As of [this edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:PermanentLink/372649734), this article uses content from*["Acute cough: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802352/)*, which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_3.0_Unported_License), but not under the [GFDL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License). All relevant terms must be followed.*

## Further reading

- Carroll, Thomas L., ed. (2019). *Chronic Cough*. Plural Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-63550-070-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-63550-070-7). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [2018055141](https://lccn.loc.gov/2018055141).

## External links

Classification D ICD-10: R05 ICD-9-CM: 786.2 MeSH: D003371 DiseasesDB: 17149 External resources MedlinePlus: 003072 eMedicine: ENT/1048560

**Cough**  at Wikipedia's [sister projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_sister_projects)

- [Definitions](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/Cough) from Wiktionary
- [Media](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Coughing) from Commons
- [Quotations](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Cough) from Wikiquote
- [Texts](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Special:Search/Cough) from Wikisource
- [Textbooks](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Teach_Cough_Hygiene_Everywhere) from Wikibooks
- [Resources](https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Search/Cough) from Wikiversity

v t e Signs and symptoms relating to the respiratory system Auscultation Stethoscope Respiratory sounds Stridor Wheeze Crackles Rhonchi Stertor Squawk Pleural friction rub Fremitus Bronchophony Death rattle Elicited findings Percussion Pectoriloquy Whispered pectoriloquy Egophony Breathing Rate Apnea Prematurity Sleep Dyspnea Hyperventilation Hypoventilation Hyperpnea Tachypnea Hypopnea Bradypnea Pattern Agonal respiration Biot's respiration Cheyne–Stokes respiration Kussmaul breathing Ataxic respiration Other Respiratory distress Respiratory arrest Orthopnea/Platypnea Trepopnea Aerophagia Asphyxia Breath holding Mouth breathing Snoring Vocal fold Aphonia Muteness Selective Phoneme Dysphonia Hypophonia Other Chest pain In children Precordial catch syndrome Pleurisy Nail clubbing Cyanosis Cough Sputum Hemoptysis Epistaxis Silhouette sign Post-nasal drip Hiccup COPD Hoover's sign asthma Curschmann's spirals Charcot–Leyden crystals chronic bronchitis Reid index sarcoidosis Kveim test pulmonary embolism Hampton hump Westermark sign pulmonary edema Kerley lines Hamman's sign Golden S sign

v t e Common cold Viruses Adenovirus Coronavirus Enterovirus Rhinovirus Symptoms Cough Fatigue Fever Headache Loss of appetite Malaise Muscle aches Nasal congestion Rhinorrhea Sneezing Sore throat Weakness Complications Acute bronchitis Bronchiolitis Croup Otitis media Pharyngitis Pneumonia Sinusitis Strep throat Drugs Antiviral drugs Cold medicine

Authority control databases International GND National United States France BnF data Japan Czech Republic Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cough](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cough) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cough?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.