Page created on February 9, 2022. Last updated on December 18, 2024 at 16:58
Differential diagnosis of acute cough
| Etiology |
Typical features |
| Viral URTI (common cold) |
Rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, fever |
| Pneumonia |
Fever, tachypnoea, SOB. Preceded by URTI |
| COVID-19 |
Rhinorrhoea, fever, sore throat. Many asymptomatic. |
| Croup |
Preceded by URTI, symptoms worsen at night, barking cough, stridor |
| Bronchiolitis |
Preceded by or coexistent URTI symptoms, wheezing |
| Foreign body |
Unattended small child, choking, onset after playing or eating |
| Pertussis |
Paroxysmal, “whooping” cough, vomiting |
| Measles |
Rash, fever, coryza, conjunctivitis |
| Tuberculosis |
Fever, weight loss, child from low-income country or low socioeconomic status |
Differential diagnosis of chronic cough
| Type of cough |
Etiology |
| Dry cough |
Recurrent respiratory infection |
| Asthma |
| Foreign body |
| RSV |
| Mycoplasma pneumonia |
| GERD |
| Cigarette smoke (passive or active) |
| Productive cough |
Persistent bacterial bronchitis |
| Unresolved pneumonia |
| Tuberculosis |