What should you know about a lingering cough after COVID?

After a respiratory infection, sensitive airways can react to cold air, talking, exertion, smoke, or dry air. Post-nasal drainage, acid reflux, or airway narrowing can also maintain coughing. Conditions such as acute bronchitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchiectasis, chronic cough, or another infection may need consideration when symptoms continue, change, or interfere with sleep and activity. The cough itself does not identify the cause.

Rest when needed, drink fluids, avoid smoking and second-hand smoke, and reduce exposure to dust, fragrances, and cold dry air. Warm drinks may soothe the throat if suitable for you. Follow any prescribed inhaler instructions and do not start antibiotics or steroid medicines without clinical advice. Keep a brief record of triggers, phlegm, breathlessness, fever, and whether symptoms are improving.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, blue lips, confusion, fainting, or coughing blood. Arrange a medical review if the cough is worsening, keeps returning, comes with fever, wheezing, reduced exercise tolerance, night symptoms, or thick or changing phlegm. A clinician may listen to your chest and decide whether further assessment is needed.

Ask what pattern your cough follows, whether reflux or nasal symptoms may contribute, whether asthma should be checked, and which treatments are appropriate for your other medicines and health conditions.