Overview
Chronic cough, defined as a cough lasting more than eight weeks, is a common and often debilitating condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. This lecture will explore the complex mechanisms underlying chronic cough, review evidence-based approaches to diagnosis, and highlight current treatment strategies, including novel therapies. By integrating case studies and the latest clinical guidelines, attendees will gain practical insights to improve patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the leading causes of chronic cough across different populations, including cough hypersensitivity syndrome and conditions such as asthma, GERD, and upper airway cough syndrome
- Outline a stepwise diagnostic approach to evaluating patients with chronic cough, incorporating clinical history, diagnostic testing, and response to therapeutic trials
- Discuss the pathophysiology and neural mechanisms of chronic cough and their implications for targeted therapies
- Evaluate current and emerging treatments for chronic cough, including behavioral therapies, pharmacologic agents, and neuromodulators