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Cough
Also known as Harsh cough and Chronic cough
A cough ( pronunciation (help·info) Latin: tussis), is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. The cough reflex consists of three phases: an inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed glottis, and a violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive sound. Coughing is either voluntary or involuntary.
Source: WikipediaWhat causes it?
The most common causes of cough are common cold, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), and asthma. Other possible causes, such as seasonal allergies (hay fever), are more rare.
What symptoms are related?
Within all the people who go to their doctor with cough, 74% report having fever, 74% report having nasal congestion, and 55% report having sore throat.
What might my doctor prescribe?
Common Tests and Procedures
Patients with cough often receive plain x-ray, nebulizer therapy, influenzavirus antibody assay, blood culture, other respiratory therapy, other therapeutic ear procedures, tracheoscopy and laryngoscopy with biopsy and diagnostic bronchoscopy and biopsy of bronchus .
Common Medications
The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with cough include azithromycin, guaifenesin (mucinex), prednisolone, benzonatate, robitussin ac, codeine / promethazine, oseltamivir (tamiflu), robitussin dm, brompheniramine / dextromethorphan / pseudoephedrine, carbinoxamine / pseudoephedrine, chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan / phenylephrine, dextromethorphan (duramax) and chlorpheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine .
| Azithromycin | $25 (7 days) | |
| Guaifenesin (Mucinex) | $13 (14 days) | |
| Prednisolone | $15 (28 days) | |
| Benzonatate | $17 (14 days) | |
| Robitussin Ac | $5 (7 days) | |
| Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) | $101 (7 days) | |
| Robitussin Dm | $7 (7 days) | |
| Dextromethorphan (Duramax) | $9 (7 days) |
Who is at risk?
Groups of people at highest risk for cough include age 5-14 years, age 1-4 years and age < 1 years.
Age
| < 1 years | 3.1x | |
| 1-4 years | 3.5x | |
| 5-14 years | 2.0x | |
| 15-29 years | 0.7x | |
| 30-44 years | 0.6x | |
| 45-59 years | 0.6x | |
| 60-74 years | 0.6x | |
| 75+ years | 0.5x |
Sex
| Male | 1.1x | |
| Female | 0.9x |
Race/Ethnicity
| Black | 1.0x | |
| Hispanic | 1.2x | |
| White | 0.9x | |
| Other | 1.3x |
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