Dry hacking cough: what should you know?

A tickle without phlegm may occur after a Common Cold or Acute Bronchitis while the airways remain sensitive. Allergic Rhinitis can trigger coughing through nasal drainage or irritation. Asthma may present with cough, wheeze, chest tightness or symptoms brought on by exercise, cold air or night-time exposure.

Acid Reflux can irritate the throat and cause coughing after meals or when lying down, sometimes with a sour taste. Chronic Cough, Bronchiectasis and Bronchiolitis are other conditions a clinician may consider based on duration, age, breathing symptoms and examination. A cough alone does not establish a diagnosis.

Sip warm fluids, stay hydrated and avoid cigarette smoke, vaping, dust, strong scents and cold dry air. Honey may soothe the throat for adults and children over one year, but never give honey to an infant. If reflux seems relevant, avoid lying down soon after eating and discuss recurring symptoms with a clinician.

Follow prescribed inhalers exactly and do not start antibiotics or someone else’s cough medicine. Note triggers, nighttime symptoms, wheeze, fever and any medicines started before the cough. A pharmacist or GP can help choose a safe treatment for your situation.

Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, collapse, confusion or chest pain. Seek urgent medical assessment for coughing blood, rapidly worsening breathlessness, or a cough with a very high fever and a markedly unwell feeling.

Arrange a GP review when the cough persists, repeatedly disrupts sleep, limits activity, follows a choking episode, or occurs with weight loss, night sweats, wheeze or recurrent chest infections. Children, older adults and people with lung disease may need earlier advice.

Could this be post-viral irritation, reflux, allergy or asthma? Do I need a chest examination or breathing tests? Which medicines are safe with my current treatment, and what duration or symptom should prompt a follow-up?