Recommendations for the management of cough in adults

Abstract

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS)^{5, 6} have each endorsed their own set of guidelines on the management of cough; however, criticism⁷ of their content and breadth suggest the need for further concise recommendations. The British Thoracic Society guidelines cover not only chronic cough but also acute cough and the organisational issues of cough clinics. International differences in delivery of respiratory health care and management strategies support the notion that such guidelines would be desirable. The British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee agreed to the development of a Working Group tasked with the job of producing a set of guidelines for the management of cough with the following key objectives: