Cause |
Clinical Presentation |
Diagnostic Tests |
Treatment |
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (Common Cold) |
Acute cough, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sore throat, low-grade fever, malaise. |
Clinical diagnosis; no specific tests usually required. |
Supportive care (hydration, rest, decongestants); symptomatic treatment with cough suppressants or antihistamines if needed. |
Acute Bronchitis |
Persistent cough (often productive), may follow an upper respiratory infection, wheezing, mild dyspnoea. |
Clinical diagnosis; chest X-ray if pneumonia suspected or in patients with risk factors. |
Supportive care, hydration, bronchodilators if wheezing present, avoid antibiotics unless bacterial infection suspected. |
Asthma |
Chronic cough, often worse at night or early morning, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, triggers include allergens, exercise, cold air. |
Spirometry (reversible airway obstruction), peak flow measurement, bronchoprovocation testing, allergy testing. |
Inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators (short-acting beta agonists for relief, long-acting for maintenance), avoid triggers. |
Gastr oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) |
Chronic cough, worse after eating or lying down, heartburn, regurgitation, sour taste in mouth, hoarseness. |
pH monitoring, oesophageal manometry, upper endoscopy if indicated. |
Lifestyle modifications (elevate head of bed, avoid trigger foods), proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antacids. |
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) |
Chronic productive cough, dyspnoea, wheezing, history of smoking or exposure to lung irritants. |
Spirometry (irreversible airway obstruction), chest X-ray or CT scan, arterial blood gases in severe cases. |
Smoking cessation, bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, oxygen therapy in advanced cases. |
Pneumonia |
Acute cough, productive or non-productive, fever, chills, dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea. |
Chest X-ray (consolidation or infiltrates), sputum culture, blood cultures if sepsis suspected. |
Antibiotics (empirical therapy based on likely pathogens), supportive care, hospitalization if severe. |
Postnasal Drip (Upper Airway Cough Syndrome) |
Chronic cough, worse at night or when lying down, sensation of mucus dripping down throat, throat clearing. |
Clinical diagnosis, may consider sinus imaging if chronic sinusitis is suspected. |
Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, saline nasal irrigation. |
Heart Failure |
Chronic cough, especially worse at night, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, fatigue, edema. |
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray (cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. |
Diuretics, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, beta-blockers, lifestyle modifications (e.g., sodium restriction, fluid management). |
Lung Cancer |
Chronic cough, haemoptysis, weight loss, chest pain, hoarseness, history of smoking. |
Chest X-ray, CT scan, bronchoscopy, biopsy for histological diagnosis. |
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy depending on cancer type and stage. |
Interstitial Lung Disease |
Chronic dry cough, progressive dyspnoea, fatigue, clubbing of fingers, history of exposure to lung irritants. |
High-resolution CT scan, pulmonary function tests, lung biopsy if needed for diagnosis. |
Management of underlying cause, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, oxygen therapy, lung transplantation in severe cases. |
ACE Inhibitor-Induced Cough |
Dry, persistent cough, onset typically within weeks of starting ACE inhibitor therapy, no other symptoms. |
Clinical diagnosis; cough resolves upon discontinuation of the ACE inhibitor. |
Discontinue ACE inhibitor, switch to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) if antihypertensive therapy is needed. |