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A very detailed medical history and physical examination will frequently suffice to determine the major factors that contribute to a chronic cough.
Often, the trigger factors are identifiable without any further testing, and treatment will lead to a successful outcome without doing anything more.
Your doctor is likely to ask whether you smoke, use ACE inhibitors for hypertension and/or whether you’ve had a recent infection (e.g. the common cold). Frequently, the associated symptoms (or lack thereof) and physical findings provide an answer in terms of the cause.
Special tests
In specific situations, such as suspected asthma, cancer or acid reflux, further specialised tests may be needed. Examples include:
- Lung function testing
- Chest X-ray with or without a computerised tomography (CT) scan
- Gastroscopy
- Oeshophageal pH monitoring
- Lab tests on a sample of mucus
Reviewed by Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, Head of the Lung Clinical Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. MBChB, MRCP(UK), Dip HIV(Man), MMED, FCP(SA), Cert Pulm(SA), PhD. February 2018.
