points in the history

Last reviewed 01/2018

Features of the cough:

• duration
• constant or intermittent
• ? productive or dry cough
• if sputum - nature of sputum:
• yellow - suggestive of infection or asthma
• large amounts of green sputum is suggestive of bronchiectasis
• pneumococcal pneumonia is suggested by rusty sputum
• ? haemoptysis:
• frank haemoptysis or recurrent small haemoptyses may occur in non-infective coughs e.g. lung cancer
• infection may present with blood-streaked sputum
• pulmonary oedema may cause pink, frothy sputum
• timing:
• a night-time cough suggests asthma or cardiovascular disease; asthma may also present with exercise-related cough

Associated factors:

• acute infection is often accompanied by fever and malaise
• wheezing occurs in asthma, COAD and pulmonary oedema
• chest pain
• pleuritic chest pain occurs in infection and infarction
• malignancy and tuberculosis should be considered if the patient is suffering from weight loss, anorexia, night sweats
• a smoking history should be recorded
• occupational history
• history of allergy
• drug history e.g. ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough