Chronic Cough Treatment in Delhi | Cough Specialist Doctor

Cough

Cough is a very broad symptom that can occur due to dozens of causes—ranging from harmless to life-threatening. It can be acute (short-term), subacute (few weeks), or chronic (long-term).

Classification By Duration

Acute – It happens for < 3 weeks, and is caused by infections like common cold, flu, pneumonia, inhalation of irritants, allergic reactions etc.
Subacute – It happens for 3–8 weeks, its causes are Post-infectious cough, mild bronchitis, early TB.
Chronic – It occurs for > 8 weeks and is caused by Asthma, GERD, COPD, TB, cancer, postnasal drip.

Possible Causes Of Cough (Grouped by Category)

1. Respiratory Infections (acute or chronic)

Common Cold / Viral URTI
Influenza
Acute bronchitis
Pneumonia (bacterial/viral/fungal)
Tuberculosis
COVID-19
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Cough may be dry or productive, often with fever, sore throat, or breathlessness.

2. Obstructive Lung Diseases

Asthma – dry or productive cough, especially at night or early morning
COPD (Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema) – chronic productive cough, often in smokers
Bronchiectasis – chronic cough with large amounts of sputum
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) – cough with mucus plugs, in asthmatics

3. Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD):

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) – dry chronic cough, progressive breathlessness
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis – dry cough, history of allergen exposure

4. Malignancy (Cancers):

Lung Cancer (NSCLC/SCLC) – persistent cough, may be blood-tinged, weight loss
Mediastinal Tumors – compress airway, cause dry cough
Bronchial Carcinoid – hemoptysis, wheeze, recurrent infections

5. Airway-related Problems:

Postnasal Drip (Upper Airway Cough Syndrome) – sensation of mucus in throat
Foreign body aspiration – sudden coughing in children
Tracheomalacia – barking cough
Laryngitis / Pharyngitis – acute dry cough with sore throat

6. Reflux & GI Causes:

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) – dry, chronic cough worse at night or lying down
Esophageal motility disorders

7. Cardiac Causes:

Heart Failure – wet cough, often worse at night (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
Pulmonary Edema – frothy sputum, breathlessness
Pulmonary Embolism – dry cough, chest pain, sudden shortness of breath

8. Drug-Induced Cough:

ACE inhibitors (like enalapril, ramipril) – dry, persistent cough
Usually resolves after stopping the drug.

9. Environmental / Lifestyle Causes:

Smoking – chronic “smoker’s cough”
Air pollution / Dust
Occupational exposure (silica, asbestos, coal)

10. Psychological / Habitual Causes:

Psychogenic cough – often in children or teenagers, absent during sleep

11. Other Rare Causes:

Sarcoidosis – dry cough, systemic features
Vocal cord dysfunction
Aspiration pneumonia – in elderly, neurologically impaired
Tracheoesophageal fistula (congenital or acquired)

Interpretation Based on Cough Duration

< 3 weeks : Viral infection, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, foreign body, COVID-19
3–8 weeks: Post-infectious cough, mild TB, pertussis, postnasal drip
> 8 weeks: Asthma, COPD, GERD, TB, cancer, ILD, drug-induced, bronchiectasis

Red Flags in Cough (Needs urgent evaluation)

Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Weight loss and fever
Chest pain or breathlessness
Cough lasting > 8 weeks
Cough with hoarseness or voice change
History of smoking or cancer

Cough

Cough

Classification By Duration

Possible Causes Of Cough (Grouped by Category)

Interpretation Based on Cough Duration

Red Flags in Cough (Needs urgent evaluation)

Symptoms

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