Cough with a rattling or sills-like sound: what to know

Try to notice whether the noise is dry, wet, rattling, wheezing or harsh, and whether it happens while breathing in or out. A common cold or acute bronchitis can leave mucus in the airways and create a loose cough. Asthma often causes a musical wheeze and chest tightness. Allergic rhinitis can cause throat clearing from nasal drainage. Acid reflux may trigger a dry cough after meals or when lying down. Bronchiolitis mainly affects infants and can involve noisy breathing and feeding difficulty. Bronchiectasis may cause repeated chest infections with ongoing mucus. A cough that continues for a long time can be assessed as chronic cough.

Record a short description of the sound, when it occurs and whether mucus, fever, wheeze or breathlessness accompanies it. Drink fluids, rest and avoid smoke, dust and strong fragrances. Keep children upright for feeds and watch their breathing. Use prescribed inhalers according to the action plan, and check with a pharmacist before taking a cough product if pregnant, treating a child or taking other medicines.

Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, pauses in breathing, choking, confusion or inability to drink. Prompt assessment is needed for a high-pitched breathing noise, worsening wheeze, chest pain or a child who is working hard to breathe. Book a review if the cough keeps returning, produces substantial mucus, disrupts sleep or does not improve.

Can you identify whether the sound comes from my throat or lungs? Would an inhaler or allergy plan be useful? Could reflux or nasal drainage be contributing? What signs should make me seek urgent help?