What is the significance of different cough types?

 

Characteristic s of cough Potential significance
Productive Chronic bronchitis, lower respiratory tract infection, bronchiectasis or cancer.
Dry Infection (upper or lower respiratory tract), asthma (see Evidence Box 2) (particularly nocturnal), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, post-nasal drip, pulmonary fibrosis, drugs (e.g. ACE-inhibitors) or cancer.
Bovine Vocal cord paralysis, potentially secondary to invasion of recurrent laryngeal nerve by lung cancer.
Wheezy Airflow limitation, e.g. asthma (see Evidence Box 2).

 

Click here to learn how to do a full respiratory examination and here for other medical exams

 

Click here for medical student OSCE and PACES exam questions about the respiratory examination