The Pulmonologist's Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cough.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Cough is one of the most common symptoms prompting medical consultation and represents a diagnostic challenge due to its multifactorial nature and often overlapping etiologies. This review outlines the pulmonologist's systematic approach to the evaluation and management of cough, emphasizing the importance of classifying cough as acute, subacute, or chronic to guide investigation and treatment. Overall, this article underscores the complexity of cough evaluation and the necessity of a comprehensive, patient-centered approach. This article describes the pulmonologist's approach to the diagnosis and treatment of cough and how it interplays with the otolaryngologist's evaluation. The need for an interdisciplinary approach to diagnoses and treat cough is emphasized.