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Cough

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This annoying symptom has many causes. Follow this chart to help identify your problem and find suggestions for self-care.

SYMPTOMS

DIAGNOSIS

SELF-CARE

1. Has your cough begun recently?

Go to Question 9.*

2. Does your cough produce yellow, tan or green mucus?

You may have an infection of the airways such as BRONCHITIS or CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. If you have a fever and are very ill, you may have a more serious infection such as PNEUMONIA.

See your doctor. Over-the-counter cough medicines may help the cough, but they won't cure the problem.

3. Does the cough come with shortness of breath and wheezing?

These symptoms suggest ASTHMA, a constriction of the airways.

Over-the-counter treatments for asthma are usually not strong enough to help. Asthma can be dangerous and should be diagnosed and treated by your doctor.

4. Do you have heart problems, swelling in your legs and/or shortness of breath?

Coughing can come from CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, especially when there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs.

See your doctor. If you're coughing up pink, frothy mucus, go directly to the nearest emergency room.

5. Have you ever coughed up blood or bloody sputum?

Go to Question 9.*

6. Do you have fevers at night?

Blood in the sputum with night sweats or fevers may be caused by TUBERCULOSIS or other types of infections.

See your doctor.

7. Have you unintentionally lost weight?

This may represent a serious illness such as LUNG CANCER.

See your doctor right away.

8. Have you recently had swelling of the legs, chest pain or shortness of breath?

Bloody mucus with these symptoms may mean a clot has moved from your leg to your lungs. This called a PULMONARY EMBOLISM.

EMERGENCY
If you think you have this problem, call or see your doctor right away.

*9. Did you inhale dust, particles or an object?

IRRITATION OF THE AIRWAYS will cause profuse coughing to attempt to rid the airway of the object or irritation.

If the coughing is severe or if you don't believe the particles or object have been cleared, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.

10. Does your cough produce mucus?

Go to Question 12.**

11. Do you have a fever?

Your infection may be from PNEUMONIA, WALKING PNEUMONIA or FLU.

You should see your doctor, especially if your fever is high or prolonged.

You may have a viral illness such as a COLD, especially if the mucus is clear to slightly yellow.

Use cold and cough medicines. If you develop a fever or if the symptoms are prolonged, see your doctor.

**12. Do you have wheezing?

Wheezing can be a symptom of ASTHMA, a viral or bacterial INFECTION of the lungs, CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE or a HELMINTH INFECTION (worms).

Wheezing can lead to serious shortness of breath. See your doctor promptly.

13. Are you coughing up blood?

Blood in the sputum can come from a NOSEBLEED or from an INFECTION, IRRITATION or a TUMOR of the lung.

Blood in the sputum is a serious problem that should be diagnosed by your doctor. If your nosebleed is severe, see your doctor right away.

14. Are you very short of breath and are you coughing up pink, frothy mucus?

This is likely to be from a serious condition called PULMONARY EDEMA (fluid in the lungs).

EMERGENCY
Go to the nearest emergency room right away.

For more information, please consult your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call right away.

This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your individual condition(s) and/or circumstances. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians. Family Health & Medical Guide. Dallas: Word Publishing; 1996.