[Cough--work-up and therapy]

Cough is one of the most prevalent symptoms of bronchopulmonary diseases. If cough persists ( > 6 weeks), further workup is mandatory. The most common causes of persistent cough in nonsmokers presenting with a normal CXR are postnasal drip due to chronic rhinitis-sinusitis, cough equivalent asthma or gastroesophageal reflux. The response to empirical therapy may confirm one of these etiologies. Other causes of chronic cough need further extensive workup involving radiologic, functional and endoscopic procedures.