ABSTRACT
Perspective If patients with chronic cough are managed empirically according to the principles and guidelines presented, it is likely that the great majority will get better. If cough does not improve or go away, one can be reasonably certain that PNDS due to a condition other than sinusitis or asthma has been ruled out. If cough does not improve or go away, one cannot be certain that PNDS due to sinusitis or GERD have been ruled out. Whether management with empiric therapy will be shown to be more cost-effective than manage ment with diagnostic testing is not clear. The authors speculate that doing some initial diagnostic testing routinely (e.g., MIC) will prove to be best.
