Continuous cough at night: what to know

Lying down can allow mucus from Allergic Rhinitis to irritate the throat, or allow Acid Reflux to reach the upper throat and trigger coughing. Asthma may cause night-time cough with wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness. A Common Cold or Acute Bronchitis can leave airways sensitive after other symptoms begin to settle. A recurrent cough may need assessment for Chronic Cough. In infants and young children, noisy breathing, feeding difficulty or unusual sleepiness needs particular caution; Bronchiolitis can affect breathing in this age group.

Keep the room free from smoke, incense, sprays and dust. Sip water when the throat feels dry, and consider a warm drink if it soothes you. If reflux seems possible, avoid lying down soon after eating and record whether late meals or spicy foods precede the cough. Use prescribed inhalers exactly as directed; do not borrow someone else’s inhaler or cough medicine. Record whether symptoms start after lying down, with exercise, around pets, or during a cold.

Get urgent help for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, inability to speak in full sentences, chest pain, confusion, fainting or coughing blood. For a child, urgent assessment is needed for ribs pulling in with breaths, pauses in breathing, poor feeding or marked drowsiness. Arrange medical review when night cough keeps disrupting sleep, is worsening, or comes with fever, wheeze or weight loss.

Ask whether the timing suggests reflux, nasal drainage, asthma or infection; whether your medicines could contribute; and whether you need a chest examination, breathing tests or another evaluation. Bring a list of triggers and all medicines.