PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Imran Satia
AU  - Huda Badri
AU  - Bashar Al-Sheklly
AU  - Jaclyn Ann Smith
AU  - Ashley A Woodcock
TI  - Towards understanding and managing chronic cough
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-6-s92
DP  - 2016 Dec 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - s92--s97
VI  - 16
IP  - Suppl 6
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/Suppl_6/s92.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/Suppl_6/s92.full
SO  - Clin Med2016 Dec 01; 16
AB  - Chronic cough is a common and troublesome condition affecting approximately 12% of the general population. It is associated with poor quality of life with psychological, social and physical consequences. Patients typically complain of a dry irritating cough, driven by a strong urge to cough associated with a sensation or irritation located in the throat. Treatment of potential ‘causes’, ie asthma, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and rhino-sinusitis, may produce a complete or partial response, but the response of some patients to opiates and alpha-2-delta ligand antagonists (gabapentin and pregabalin) supports the concept that this is primarily a neurological disorder, characterised by hyper-responsiveness of the nerves. Novel and highly effective neuronal treatments are in development and offer hope of better symptom control with fewer side effects within a few years. This review focuses on understanding the mechanism of chronic cough, current management approaches and research that may lead to novel therapies.