A cough is an annoying symptom that can have many causes. Follow this chart to help identify your problem and find suggestions for self-care.
| SYMPTOMS | DIAGNOSIS | SELF-CARE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Begin Here | ||||
1. Has your cough begun recently? |  Yes | |||
| No | ||||
2. Are you very short of breath, and are you coughing up pink, frothy mucus? | Yes | Your symptoms may be from a serious condition called PULMONARY EDEMA (fluid in the lungs). | | EMERGENCY GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM RIGHT AWAY. |
| No | ||||
3. Does your cough produce clear or pale yellow mucus? | Yes | You may have a viral illness such as a COLD or the FLU. | | Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Try over-the-counter medicines to treat your symptoms. |
| No | ||||
4. Does your cough produce yellow, tan or green mucus? | Yes | You may have an infection of the airways such as CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. If you have a fever with shaking chills and are very ill, you may have a more serious infection such as PNEUMONIA. | | See your doctor. He or she can prescribe medicine to relieve your symptoms. Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. If you smoke, stop smoking. |
| No | ||||
5. Does the cough come with shortness of breath and wheezing? | Yes | These symptoms may be a sign of ASTHMA, a constriction of the airways. | | Asthma can be dangerous and should be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. |
| No | ||||
6. Do you have swelling in your legs and/or shortness of breath when you are active or after you have been lying down? | No | |||
| Yes | ||||
7. Do you have heart problems? | Yes | Persistent coughing can be caused by CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, especially when there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs. | | See your doctor. |
| No | ||||
8. Have you recently started coughing up blood or bloody sputum? | No | |||
| Yes | ||||
9. Have you recently started having sharp chest pain, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the legs and sudden shortness of breath? | Yes | Bloody mucus with these symptoms may mean that a blood clot has moved from your leg to your lungs. This is called PULMONARY EMBOLISM. | | EMERGENCY |
| No | ||||
*10. Do you have a fever, chills and night sweats along with chest pain when you cough or take a deep breath? | Yes | These symptoms may be caused by TUBERCULOSIS or another type of infection. | | See your doctor. |
| No | ||||
11. Have you unintentionally lost weight? | Yes | This may be a sign of a serious illness, such as LUNG CANCER. Other signs of lung cancer may include a cough that produces bloody sputum, shortness of breath and wheezing. | | See your doctor right away. |
| No | ||||
Yes | IRRITATION OF THE AIRWAYS will cause coughing to attempt to clear the object or irritation out of the airway. | | If the coughing is severe or if you don't believe the irritant has been cleared from your airway, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. | |
| No | ||||
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think your problem is serious, call your doctor right away. |
This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your individual condition(s) and/or circumstances. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians. Family Health & Medical Guide. Dallas: Word Publishing; 1996.