Cough
A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of phlegm and irritants such as dust or smoke. It’s rarely a sign of anything serious.
Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and don’t need any treatment.
A dry cough means it’s tickly and doesn’t produce any mucus (phlegm). A chesty cough means phlegm is produced to help clear your airways.
If you smoke, quitting is likely to help improve your cough. Read more about stopping smoking.
Cough self-help guide
Advice for people over the age of 5 with a cough.
Read more about breathing problems in children or advice If your child has cold or flu symptoms
Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
If your GP is unsure what’s causing your cough, they may refer you to a specialist. They may also request some tests, such as a chest X-ray, allergy tests, breathing tests, and an analysis of a sample of your phlegm to check for infection.
Treatment for cough
Treatment isn’t always necessary for short-term coughs because it’s likely to be a viral infection that will get better on its own within a few weeks.
Things you can do to help your symptoms
Do
- rest
- drink plenty of fluids
- take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – always read the manufacturer’s instructions
Treatment from a pharmacist
You can speak to a pharmacist for advice about coughs and cough treatments.
Cough medicines and remedies
There’s no evidence that cough medicines work.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 6. Children aged 6 to 12 should only use them on the advice of a pharmacist or doctor.
A homemade remedy containing honey and lemon is likely to be just as useful and safer to take. Honey shouldn’t be given to babies under the age of 1.
Treating the underlying cause
If your cough has a specific cause, treating this may help. For example:
- asthma can be treated with inhaled steroids to reduce inflammation in your airways
- allergies can be treated by avoiding things you’re allergic to and taking antihistamines
- bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics
- reflux, also known as GORD, can be treated with antacids to neutralise your stomach acid and medication to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces
- COPD can be treated with bronchodilators to widen your airways
What causes a cough?
Short-term coughs
Common causes of a short-term cough include:
- an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) that affects the throat, windpipe or sinuses – for example a cold, flu, laryngitis, sinusitis or whooping cough
- a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) that affects your lungs or lower airways – for example acute bronchitis or pneumonia
- an allergy, such as allergic rhinitis or hay fever
- a flare-up of a long-term condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchiectasis
- breathing in dust or smoke
Persistent coughs
A persistent cough may be caused by:
- asthma – this also usually causes other symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath
- an allergy
- smoking – a smoker’s cough can also be a symptom of COPD
- bronchiectasis – where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where the throat becomes irritated by stomach acid
- a prescribed medicine, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor), which is used to treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease – examples include ramipril and lisinopril
In most cases, a doctor will need to know if you are producing much more or darker phlegm than usual.
Often, the cause of a persistent cough is unknown (idiopathic).
Rarely, a persistent cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as lung cancer, heart failure, a pulmonary embolism (blood clot on the lung) or tuberculosis.
Coughs in children
Coughs in children can also be caused by respiratory tract infections, asthma or GORD.
Causes of coughs that are more common in children than adults include:
- bronchiolitis – a mild respiratory tract infection that usually causes cold-like symptoms
- croup – causes a distinctive barking cough and a harsh sound known as stridor when the child breathes in
- whooping cough – causes symptoms such as intense, hacking bouts of coughing, vomiting, and a ‘whoop’ sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing
Occasionally, a persistent cough in a child can be a sign of a serious long-term condition, such as cystic fibrosis.
Read more about what to do if your child has cold or flu symptoms
Last updated:
26 November 2025