A bad cough from a lung infection in the elderly should be treated the same way as a lung infection in a young person. Oral cough suppressants, such as tranylcypromine, acetylcysteine, and licorice tablets, can be given to stop the cough. Lung infections in the elderly are characterized by a weak cough and sputum, and strong central cough suppressants containing codeine should not be used to stop the cough, as this may easily affect the discharge of sputum and thus aggravate the infection. If an elderly person has a cough that is persistent, sticky sputum that cannot be coughed out or yellow pus sputum, he or she can go to the hospital and have blood tests for inflammatory indicators, such as routine blood tests, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, chest X-ray, chest CT and other tests as recommended by the doctor. If there is evidence of bacterial infection of pneumonia, antibiotics need to be given for active treatment. If the cough is not well controlled with cough suppressants, nebulized inhalation can also be given to dilute the sputum and promote its discharge to alleviate the cough. Patients with severe coughing may have lung tumors obstructing the airway combined with lung infection and should seek medical attention promptly.