Coughs

• Refer if shortness of breath or dramatic weight loss
• Refer if lasts longer than 2 weeks
• Non productive coughs are generally viral or asthma
• Productive coughs can be bacterial therefore may require antibiotics if gets worse
• No infection mucus - clear/white
• Infection mucus - Yellow/green/brown
• Thick yellow mucus could be asthma
• Rust coloured mucus may be pneumonia and coughing up blood
• Dark red mucus may be carcinoma
• Pink frothy mucus, must refer as heart faliure
• Coughs are usually self limiting and go away within a week if it is upper
• Lower respiratory coughs may last up to 3 weeks
• A cough lasting 3 months or months or more should be referred
• Productive coughs should use expectorants
• Cough expectorants - Guaifenesin, Ammonium salts or citric acid to promote coughing
• Cough suppressants used for dry coughs, codeine, pholcodine or dextromethorphan
• Antihistamines can be used for their mucus-drying effects and reducing itchiness
• Demulcents can be used to soothe a tickly throat
• Barking cough in babies 6months to 2 years could be croup