What Cause Prolonged Coughing?

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 14 May 2014 Answered on

Tue, 3 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi Sir, We have a friend mr XXXXXXX who is 42 years old. He has cough problem in chest since last 12 days. when he is throwing it out, it does not come out properly. It somewhere gets stuck in my throat . When he speaks aloud, cough comes all of sudden but gets stuck. This problem is since last 12 days. It has never happened before. Please give your advise.

Answered by Dr. Arnab Maji (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
GERD, ASTHMA, UACS, VCD

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for your query.
The differential diagnoses as per your history may be as follows -
1. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD),
2. Asthma,
3. Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD),
4. Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS).
You need to consult a pulmonologist soon and get yourself thoroughly examined and go for some investigations like spirometry with bronchodialator reversibility to rule out asthma. laryngoscopy to rule out upper airway cough syndrome and vocal cord dysfunction syndrome. For GERD you may have a trial of pantoprazole tablet 40 mg twice daily before food for at least 1 week along with life style modification and if there is improvement this therapy should be continued for 5 more weeks in order to prevent recurrence of symptoms. If your friend is smoker he should be counselled to stop smoking soon. I think by all these the etiology of cough can be evaluated and it is essential because only appropriate treatment can relieve his symptoms.
Thank you.
Regards,
Dr Arnab Maji
Pulmonologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D