Impact of History Taking for Cough Management

 | Dr. Noopur Baijal
Cough serves as a crucial protective reflex that prevents aspiration and aids in clearing the airways. However, when persistently excessive, it becomes a prevalent and debilitating complaint in clinical settings.1 The session conducted by the esteemed speaker elucidated the art of comprehensive history-taking in diagnosing cough, emphasising essential guidelines and key information acquisition from patients diagnosing a cough. The discussion covered the characterisation of sputum, potential triggers of chronic cough, and the influence of seasonal and postural variations on cough development. Distinguishing between dry and productive coughs, the session highlighted common causes and presentations in both adults and children, along with diagnostic algorithms for acute, subacute, and chronic coughs. Case-based scenarios were analysed to enhance practical understanding among clinicians. Recommendations underscored the sequential approach of history-taking, physical examination,2 chest radiography, and spirometry to accurately diagnose cough, advocating for thorough assessment and attentive listening as pivotal practices in clinical evaluation. "1. erj.ersjournals.com/content/55/1/1901136?ctkey=shareline&utm_medium=shareline&utm_source=01136-2019&utm_campaign=shareline 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK116695/"