Diseases

Chronic Cough

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A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children. A chronic cough is more than just an annoyance. ... While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux.

SYMPTOMS

A runny or stuffy nose.
A feeling of liquid running down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
Frequent throat clearing and sore throat.
Hoarseness.
Wheezing and shortness of breath.
Heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth.

CAUSES

Postnasal drip.
Asthma, especially cough-variant asthma, which causes a cough as the main symptom.
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux (gerd)
Chronic bronchitis.
Infections, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.