Cough

What it means

A sudden, audible expulsion of air from the lungs through a partially closed glottis, preceded by inhalation.

The European Respiratory Society Task Force recommended two possible definitions of cough: (1) A three-phase expulsive motor act characterized by an inspiratory effort (inspiratory phase) followed by a forced expiratory effort against a closed glottis (compressive phase) and then by opening of the glottis and rapid expiratory airflow (expulsive phase);and (2) A forced expiratory maneuver, usually against a closed glottis and associated with a characteristic sound. The term Cough or any of its more specific descendents can be modified by the terms Acute (HP:0011009), Subacute (HP:0011011), and Chronic (HP:0011010). In adults, an acute cough lasts less than 3 weeks, a subacute cough from 3 to 8 weeks, and a chronic cough longer than 8 weeks. In children aged less than 15 years a chronic cough is defined as a daily cough lasting for over 4 weeks.

In everyday care

Most people with this sign do not have a rare disease — it appears in common conditions far more often. These general reference pages cover the same topic:

Rare diseases that can present with this115

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category