ABSTRACT
Introduction Cough is a common manifestation of most respiratory disorders, and a natural defensive mechanism and protective reflex for clearing the upper and lower airways of large amounts of mucus due to excessive secretions or impaired mucociliary clearance, inhaled particles or foreign material, and infectious organisms. In the US, it is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical attention; it constitutes about 10-38% of the chest specialist’s outpatient practice.
