COUGH - WORK-UP AND THERAPY

Cough is one of the most prevalent symptoms of bronchopulmonary diseas es. If cough persists (>6 weeks), further workup is mandatory. The mos t common causes of persistent cough in nonsmokers presenting with a no rmal CXR are postnasal drip due to chronic rhinitis-sinusitis, cough e quivalent asthma or gastroesophageal reflux. The response to empirical therapy may confirm one of these etiologies. Other causes of chronic cough need further extensive workup involving radiologic, functional a nd endoscopic procedures.