Cough

You’ll be able to hear or feel when you have a cough. If it’s a short-term cough that clears up within a few weeks, you may experience other common symptoms such as:

• a dry or sore throat 

• a tickly sensation in your throat

• phlegm 

Symptoms that could be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be treated include:

• a cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks

• a severe or painful cough

• a cough that produces blood

• a cough that produces more or darker phlegm than usual

• breathing difficulties

• chest pain

• unexplained weight loss

• a change in your voice

• lumps or swellings in your neck 

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a respiratory specialist who can determine the cause of your cough and provide you with the care you need.

Short-term and persistent coughs have different causes. Identifying the cause will mean you can get the best available treatment.

Common causes of a short-term or acute cough include:

• an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) such as a cold, flu, laryngitis, sinusitis, or whooping cough

• a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia

• a known or unknown allergy, such as hay fever

• a flare-up of a long-term condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis

• inhaled dust or smoke

In rare cases, a short-term cough may be the first sign of a health condition that causes a persistent cough.

Causes of a persistent or chronic cough include:

• a long-term respiratory tract infection, such as chronic bronchitis

• previously unknown asthma

• a previously unknown allergy

• smoking

• bronchiectasis

• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)

• a prescribed medicine

Rarely, a persistent cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as lung cancer, heart failure, a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), or tuberculosis.

If you have a persistent cough, your consultant will ask you to talk through your symptoms and medical history during your initial consultation. They may be able to make a diagnosis and recommend the right treatment for you after the consultation.

If there’s any doubt about what’s causing it, they’ll refer you to have further tests so they can make the most accurate diagnosis. 

The tests may include: 

• a chest X-ray

• allergy tests

• breathing tests

• a phlegm analysis

Not all coughs can be prevented, especially if you have an underlying condition. If there’s a specific cause for your cough, treating it will reduce your symptoms and may make them go away entirely. 

You may be able to prevent some coughs by avoiding the things you know make you cough, avoiding touching your nose, eyes, or mouth, and washing your hands thoroughly. Getting regular vaccinations for flu and COVID-19 can also help.

In most cases, short-term coughs resolve themselves within a few weeks and don’t lead to any complications. 

As persistent coughs sometimes have more serious causes, getting a diagnosis and treatment will help you avoid further complications.

If your cough is short-term, you likely won’t need any treatment, and it should get better on its own within a few weeks. 

Treatment options for a short-term cough

There are home remedies and over-the-counter options you can try to ease any discomfort. These include:

• getting plenty of rest

• staying well hydrated

• drinking hot water with lemon and honey

• taking cough syrups

• sucking on cough drops

• taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen

Treatment options for a persistent cough

Your neurologist will recommend treating the underlying cause of your cough. The treatment will vary depending on the specific cause. For example:

• asthma can be treated with inhaled steroids to reduce inflammation in your airways

• allergies can be treated by avoiding things you’re allergic to and taking antihistamines to dampen down your allergic reactions

• bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics

• GORD can be treated with antacids to neutralise your stomach acid and medication to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces

• COPD can be treated with bronchodilators to widen your airways

At Welbeck, our respiratory specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.