Post-viral cough

A post-viral cough is a lingering cough that follows a viral respiratory tract infection, such as a common cold or flu, and lasting more than eight weeks. Post-viral cough is a clinically recognized condition represented within the European medical literature but is not mentioned in studies from America.^{[citation needed]} Patients usually experience repeated episodes of post-viral cough. The heightened sensitivity in the respiratory tract is demonstrated by inhalation cough challenge.

Cause

One possible cause for post-viral cough is that the receptors that are responsible for stimulating the cough during the respiratory tract infection are up-regulated by respiratory tract infection and continue to stimulate after the virus has disappeared.

Treatment

Post viral cough can be resistant to treatment. Inhaled steroids may work in some patients. Post-viral cough usually goes away on its own; however, cough suppressants containing codeine may be prescribed. Often this can be caused by post nasal drip and nasal steroids and pseudoephedrine might be helpful.

See also

• Asthma
• Bronchiolitis
• Cough medicine
• Globus pharyngis