Differential Diagnosis for Cough
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Acute Bronchitis: This is often the most common cause of cough, typically resulting from a viral upper respiratory infection. It's characterized by a dry or productive cough that lasts for less than 3 weeks.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Asthma: A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that can cause cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Cough in asthma can be dry or productive and is often worse at night or with exercise.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Includes conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, characterized by a long-standing cough, often productive, and shortness of breath.
- Allergic Rhinitis: Can cause a dry cough due to postnasal drip, where mucus from the nose drips down the back of the throat, irritating it and triggering a cough.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus can irritate the throat and cause a cough.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It's crucial to diagnose promptly as it can be life-threatening, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
- Pulmonary Embolism: A blockage of an artery in the lungs that can cause sudden onset of cough, often accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath. It's a medical emergency.
- Lung Cancer: Though less common, a persistent cough can be an early sign of lung cancer, especially in smokers or those exposed to carcinogens.
- Tuberculosis (TB): A bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs and can cause a chronic cough, often with blood-tinged sputum, weight loss, and night sweats.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic disorder that results in severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. It can cause a chronic cough due to the production of thick, sticky mucus.
- Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, but most commonly the lungs and lymph glands. It can cause cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
- Bronchiectasis: A condition where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened, leading to a chronic cough and frequent lung infections.
- Eosinophilic Pneumonia: A rare category of pneumonia characterized by an accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs, which can cause cough, fever, and shortness of breath.