ABSTRACT
Estimating the duration of cough is the first step in diagnosis. Obviously all
types of cough have an onset and hopefully an end, therefore by definition all types of cough must go through an initial acute stage at the time of onset.
Irwin and Madison (1) categorize cough on the basis of duration; acute
cough lasting less than 3 weeks, subacute 3-8 weeks, and chronic lasting
more than 8 weeks. Most cases of acute cough will not be seen by specialists
as the self-limiting nature of the condition means that the cough is likely to
have resolved before the patient can obtain an appointment to see the spe-
cialist. Morice (2) defines cough into only two diagnostic groups; acute
cough that is usually due to viral respiratory tract infection and chronic cough that may be arbitrarily defined as lasting longer than 8 weeks. It is
the latter definition by Morice (2) that will be used in the present discussion
and acute coughwill be defined as caused by acute upper respiratory tract viral
infection. Irwin et al. (3) list other common causes of acute cough such as
acute bacterial sinusitis, pertussis, exacerbation of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorder (COPD), allergic rhinitis, and exposure to environmental
irritants; and lists less common causes of acute cough as asthma, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, aspiration syndromes, and pulmonary embolism.
The present discussion will be limited to acute cough associated with viral
infection of the upper respiratory tract.
