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Cough
Coughing is a reflex that keeps your throat and airways clear. Although it can be annoying, coughing helps your body heal or protect itself. Coughs can be either acute or chronic. Acute coughs begin suddenly and usually last no more than 2 to 3 weeks. Acute coughs are the kind you most often get with a cold or flu. Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks. Causes of chronic cough include
- Asthma
- Allergies
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Smoking
- Throat disorders, such as croup in young children
- Some medicines
Water can help ease your cough – whether you drink it or add it to the air with a steamy shower or vaporizer. If you have a cold or the flu, antihistamines may work better than non-prescription cough medicines. Do not give non-prescription cough medicines to children under 14 years of age.
Start Here
- Chronic Cough: Causes and Cures(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Cough(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Your Child's Cough(Nemours Foundation)
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Overviews
- Managing Cough as a Defense Mechanism and as a Symptom(American College of Chest Physicians)
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Latest News
- Acid Reflux Linked to Chronic Croup(09/21/2008, HealthDay)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Cough(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Treatment
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Cough Medicine: Understanding Your OTC Options(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
- Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research)
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Cough Medicine: Understanding Your OTC Options(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Prevention/Screening
- Cover Your Cough(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Related Issues
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Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
- Cough Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Unapproved Timed-Release Guaifenesin Products(Food and Drug Administration)
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Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse(Nemours Foundation)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cough and cold medication use by US children, 1999-2006: results...
- Article: NICE issues guidance on antibiotics for coughs and colds.
- Article: Over-the-counter cough and cold medication use in young children.
- Cough -- see more articles
- Medical Encyclopedia Return to top
- Organizations Return to top
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Children
- Allergies, Asthma, and Reflux Top Culprits in Chronic Cough(Nemours Foundation)
- OTC Cough and Cold Products: Not For Infants and Children Under 2 Years of Age(Food and Drug Administration)
- Patient Information for Parents of a Child with Cough(American College of Chest Physicians) - Links to PDF
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Date last updated: 22 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 13 August 2008 |