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Cough Symptomatic Treatment
Aka: Cough Symptomatic Treatment, Cough Drops, Cough Preparation, Intractable Cough, Cough Management
- See Also
- Chronic Cough
- Cough Suppressant
- Cough Expectorant
- Management: General measures to relieve cough
- See Cough Suppressant
- Cough Drops
- Children over age 4 years only (risk of Choking)
- Eucalyptus oil may be best
- Honey (1-2 teaspoons)
- Suppresses cough and improves sleep in children with Upper Respiratory Infection
- Cohen (2012) Pediatrics 130(3): 465-71 [PubMed]
- Avoid honey in younger than 1 year (Botulism Risk)
- Homemade cough syrup: Teaspoon honey and 2 drops lemon juice
- Some recipes substitute corn syrup
- Warm brews (warm liquids are usually soothing)
- Humidifiers may loosen Sputum produced with cough
- Mentholated ointment (e.g. Vicks)
- Avoid camphor products under age 2 years (risk of absorption and hepatotoxicity)
- No proven benefit, but may be soothing
- Management: Avoid activities provoking cough
- Exercise may trigger coughing spasms
- Tobacco Smoke (active or passive) should be avoided!!
- Continued smoking will prolong cough for weeks
- Management: Treat suspected underlying cause of cough
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Antihistamine
- Nasal Corticosteroid (e.g. Flonase)
- Singulair
- Post-Bronchitic cough (>3 weeks)
- Ipratropium BromideInhaler
- Inhaled Corticosteroid
- Prednisone for 5 day course (severe cough)
- Acute Bronchitis with bronchospasm
- Albuterol MDI
- Advair (not typically covered or recommended)
- Asthma Exacerbation
- Albuterol MDI
- Inhaled Corticosteroid
- Prednisone for 5 day course (severe exacerbation)
- Upper Respiratory Infection with postnasal Drainage
- Nasal Saline
- Guaifenesin (e.g. Mucinex)
- NSAIDs (may reduce upper airway inflammation)
- Combination Antihistamine-Decongestant
- Antihistamine may reduce nighttime postnasal drainage but may predispose to Sinusitis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Antacid Medication (e.g. Proton Pump Inhibitor)
- Paroxysmal cough without RAD exacerbation
- Consider Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Nebulized Lidocaine
- Efficacy
- Nonprescription Cough Preparations
- No clear benefit of any agent compared with Placebo
- Many agents are associated with adverse effects
- Schroeder (2002) BMJ 324:329-31 [PubMed]
- Corticosteroids
- Prednisone 40 x5 days had no benefit in reducing severity or duration of non-Asthmatic cough
- Hay (2017) JAMA 318(8):721-30 +PMID:28829884 [PubMed]