Common causes and treatment of chronic cough

  1. Chronic bronchitis: The principles of treatment are anti-infection, cough suppression, expectoration, smoking cessation and avoidance of oil and smoke stimulation.  2, eosinophilic bronchitis: sensitive to glucocorticoids, budesonide inhalation can be given, and the cough can be significantly reduced after treatment.  3, bronchiectasis: the treatment principle is to promote sputum drainage, control infection and surgical excision if necessary. Postural drainage can promote sputum discharge, and those with large amount of pus sputum and poor drainage can have sputum aspirated through fiberoptic bronchoscope.  4, pulmonary tuberculosis: anti-tuberculosis drugs are the basis of treatment of tuberculosis. The principle of anti-tuberculosis is early, combined, regular, adequate and full use of anti-tuberculosis drugs.  5, mycoplasma pneumonia: erythromycin, cross-trimoxazole and tetracycline treatment is effective and can shorten the course of treatment. Treatment must be continued for 2 to 3 weeks to avoid relapse. Codeine can be used as appropriate for severe cough.  6. Cough variant asthma: treated with hormones and β2 agonists by inhalation. The effect of long-acting β2 agonists can be maintained for 12 hours and can be used to treat nocturnal attacks of asthma and cough. If the above treatment is ineffective, aminophylline and short-acting hydrocortisone may be added. Generally, expectorants, central cough suppressants and antibiotics are not used for treatment, but for cough variant asthma by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, macrolide antibiotic combination therapy is available.  7, respiratory hyperresponsiveness after viral infection: treatment is similar to that of cough variant asthma, and inhalation of ipratropium bromide is effective.  8, chronic lung abscess: the principles of treatment are the same as those of bronchial dilatation.  9, gastro-esophageal reflux syndrome: treatment is based on anti-reflux therapy.  10, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced cough: the most effective measure is to discontinue the drug. It has been reported that the addition of 12.5~25 mg of isoproterenol without stopping captopril, taken once in the evening, has an efficiency of 85.7%.  11. Psychogenic cough: Treatment measures are mainly based on speech therapy, breathing training, psychotherapy and relaxation skill training.  12. Posterior nasal tract secretion drip syndrome: chronic rhinitis requires oral long-acting antihistamines such as fexofenadine, local vasoconstrictors or desensitization therapy. Paranasal sinusitis requires antibiotics and vasoconstrictors such as ephedrine nasal drops.  13. Chronic cough caused by lung cancer, restrictive chest disease, emphysema, silicosis, pulmonary mycosis, alveolar protein deposition, inflammation of the pharynx and larynx, tuberculosis or tumor, and medullary paralysis should be treated accordingly.