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7203139 
Journal Article 
[Cough and its Differential Diagnosis] 
Koch, A; Behr, J; , 
2018 
Yes 
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift
ISSN: 0012-0472
EISSN: 1439-4413 
143 
17 
1258-1271 
German 
30134458 
A thorough anamnesis and the physical examination of a patient with cough mostly lead the way to the further diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. As far as there are no obvious reasons for the cough symptoms, any case of persisting chronic cough needs a diagnostic clarification - including computed tomography of the thorax and bronchoscopy as the final step. If clinical findings make them necessary, also invasive diagnostic procedures - such as bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy and surgical biopsy of the lung - must not be avoided. According to the clinical presentation appropriate medical disciplines have to be consulted for the diagnostic clarification of chronic cough. Besides pulmonology und allergology these are ENT medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, infectiology, neurology and possibly psychiatry. The therapy of chronic and acute cough should be aimed at a causal treatment approach.