Symptom: Persistent cough

Introduction: Persistent cough

Persistent cough: Cough that remains or becomes chronic. See free access online books about Persistent cough below. See detailed information below for a list of 60 causes of Persistent cough, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Persistent cough: full list

Causes of Persistent cough:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Persistent cough. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Whooping cough
• Chronic cough
• Smoker's cough
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• COPD
• Lung cancer

See full list of 60 causes of Persistent cough

» Review Causes of Persistent cough: full list

Causes of Types of Persistent cough:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Persistent cough:

• Chronic cough (103 causes)
• Croup (16 causes)

More types of Persistent cough

Persistent cough: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Persistent cough, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Persistent cough: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Persistent cough and Chronic cough (57 causes)
• Persistent cough and Cough (57 causes)
• Persistent cough and Lung symptoms (57 causes)
• Persistent cough and Respiratory symptoms (57 causes)
• Persistent cough and Severe cough (56 causes)
• Persistent cough and Breath symptoms (51 causes)
• Persistent cough and Breathing symptoms (51 causes)
• Persistent cough and Breathing difficulties (49 causes)
• Persistent cough and Nerve symptoms (40 causes)
• Persistent cough and Pain (39 causes)
• Persistent cough and Sensations (39 causes)
• Persistent cough and Head symptoms (36 causes)
• Persistent cough and Face symptoms (32 causes)
• Persistent cough and Stridor (32 causes)
• Persistent cough and Wheezing (30 causes)
• Persistent cough and Mouth symptoms (29 causes)
• Persistent cough and Throat symptoms (28 causes)
• Persistent cough and Exercise symptoms (27 causes)
• Persistent cough and Shortness of breath from exercise (27 causes)
• Persistent cough and Fatigue (23 causes)

See full list of 666 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Persistent cough

Home Diagnostic Testing and Persistent cough

Home medical tests possibly related to Persistent cough:

• Home Lung Function Tests
• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Respiratory symptoms (1548 causes)
• Lung symptoms (620 causes)
• Cough (439 causes)
• Severe cough (56 causes)
• Chronic cough (103 causes)
• Common symptoms (4205 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Persistent cough

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Persistent cough:

• Cough (439 causes)
• Persistent cough (60 causes)
• Dry cough (60 causes)
• Wet cough (102 causes)
• Coughing blood (190 causes)
• Coughing spasms (13 causes)
• Morning cough
• Mild cough (5 causes)
• Chronic cough (103 causes)
• Severe cough (56 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Persistent cough

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Persistent cough from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Persistent cough. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Persistent cough

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Persistent cough

Sinusitis is overdiagnosed: There is a tendency to give a diagnosis of sinusitis, when the condition is really a harmless complication of another infection, such as a common cold....read more »

Whooping cough often undiagnosed: Although most children in the Western world have been immunized against whooping cough (also called "pertussis"), this protection wears off after about 15 years. Thus, any teen or adult with a...read more »

Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early. Some of the chronic lung diseases with diagnostic difficulties include...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Persistent cough

Diagnostic tests for Persistent cough:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Persistent cough. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspect sputum (if present) for color and consistency
  • Examine lymph nodes looking for enlarged cervical or Axillary lymph nodes which may indicate lung cancer
  • Examine for Horner's syndrome - e.g. dilated pupil and drooping of the upper eyelid which may indicate lung cancer.
  • Examine for possible causes of postnasal drip - e.g. sinusitis, ear infection, nasal polyps.

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Persistent cough

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Persistent cough. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the cough? - to establish if truly chronic or persistent i.e. cough that has been present and not improving for more than 4 weeks.
• How would you describe the cough? - e.g. paroxysmal with whoops suggest whooping cough; painful cough may suggest left ventricular heart failure; weak cough may suggest lung cancer; bovine (no power to cough) suggests vocal cord paralysis.
• What time of the day is the cough worse? - e.g. cough at night may suggest asthma, left ventricular failure, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough; cough on waking may suggest bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis or gastro-esophageal reflux.
• Is the cough related to meals? - e.g. esophageal diverticulum, tracheo-esophageal fistula.
• Past medical history? - recurrent lung infections from childhood may suggest cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Persistent cough (20 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Persistent cough) may include:

• Sputum production? - If there is sputum production, describe it? - e.g. copious amounts with an offensive smell suggests bronchiectasis; yellow-green thick and sticky may suggest asthma; profuse and watery may suggest lung cancer; red-currant jelly may suggest lung cancer; pink and frothy may suggest left ventricular failure with pulmonary edema.
• Blood in sputum? - may suggest chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, lung metastasis, foreign body, left ventricular failure and mitral stenosis.
• Wheeze? - usually suggests asthma but must also consider chronic bronchitis, emphysema, foreign body, lung cancer, congestive heart failure.
• If you do have a wheeze, have you had previous attacks of wheezing, hay fever or eczema in the past? - more likely to suggest asthma as a cause of chronic cough.
• Shortness of breath? - may suggest asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, left ventricular failure, tuberculosis, emphysema and lung cancer.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Persistent cough (20 listings)

Stories from Users for Persistent cough

Real-life user stories relating to Persistent cough:

• Can't get a diagnosis
• hey anyone with cough that doesnt go away??
• I cant get a diagnosis!! Help!!
• Persistent dry cough - A very scared man
• I can't get a diagnosis, please help!!!!!!!
• Killer cough condition
• I can't get a diagnosis, could use help!
• persistant tickly cough
• I can't get a diagnosis, please help
• Please help.....can't get rid of my fatigue
• cough for 2 months now.
• Cough for over a month
• i can't get a diagnosis
• Cant get diagnosis
• Chronic cough?
• Adderall Withdrawl/Dependence:I cant continue but I cant stop
• Persistent cough for the last two weeks or so, with sputum and difficulty breathing
• Can't find a diagnosis.
• Constant Coughing
• can't get help from doctors

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Persistent cough or relevant symptoms:

• ENMT (Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat) (275)
  • Swelling in roof of mouth
  • Pain on one side of throat
  • Please help! Mucus/dark circles/bad breath...
  • Painful white bumps on tongue
  • Sinus headache & eye area pain
  • More user stories
• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
  • Chlorine/ammonia odor when I breathe
  • Chest Pain/Pain While Breathing
  • Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
  • Chest discomfort
  • Unable to get diagnosis....please help!
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Persistent cough

Patient Surveys for Persistent cough

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Medications or substances causing Persistent cough:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Persistent cough as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Capace

See full list of 1 medications causing Persistent cough

Organs affected by Persistent cough:

The list of organs typically affected by Persistent cough may include, but is not limited to:

• Heart
• Lungs
• Sinus
• Throat

Detailed list of causes of Persistent cough

The list below shows some of the causes of Persistent cough mentioned in various sources:

• Acid-Base Imbalance - chronic cough
• Adenoviruses - croup
• Asbestosis - persistent cough
• Asthma - persistent cough
• Barrett's esophagus - Chronic cough

See full list of 60 causes of Persistent cough

How Common are these Causes of Persistent cough?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Persistent cough. Of the 60 causes of Persistent cough that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 7 causes are "very common" diseases
• 4 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 9 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 47 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 60 causes of Persistent cough

Conditions listing symptoms: Persistent cough:

The following list of conditions have 'Persistent cough' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Persistent cough Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Persistent cough based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: