Abstract

Sputum and a cough are frequent concerns at outpatient appointments. In this condensed version, we give an overview of these two symptoms and talk about how to treat acute (lasting up to three weeks) and persistent/ chronic cough (longer than three weeks). There are flowcharts available, as well as a detailed explanation of how to diagnose and treat them. The most common cause of acute cough is an infection. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, drug-induced lung injury, heart failure, nasal sinus disease, sinobronchial syndrome, eosinophilic sinusitis, cough variant asthma (CVA), atopic cough, chronic laryngeal allergy, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and post-infectious cough are all examples of chronic respiratory illnesses where a cough may be. Although unusual illnesses should be taken into consideration, over-peak cough should not be treated with antibiotics.

One of the most frequent ailments for which patients seek medical care is cough. As a result, huge sums of money are spent each year on both prescription and over-the-counter cough medicines. Numerous prospective trials have demonstrated the great effectiveness of targeted antitussive medication that addresses the underlying aetiology of cough. Therefore, the most pressing need at this time is for generic antitussive therapy that is more effective and whose goal is to inhibit the cough reflex and relieve symptoms without consideration to the underlying cause. Such treatment is especially necessary for cough that persists after an upper respiratory infection, cough whose underlying cause is difficult to treat, and idiopathic cough. There are numerous research projects underway that could result in the creation of brand-new, potent antitussive medications.