This is a mnemonic for differential diagnosis of cough:
Bronchitis or pneumonia
Asthma
Drugs, e.g. ACEi
Cardiogenic, e.g. mitral stenosis
Aspiration, e.g foreign body in children, achalasia in adults
TB
Thyroid enlargement, e.g. goiter
Other, e.g. GERD, PE
Malignancy, e.g. lung cancer
Differential diagnosis of cough, a simple mnemonic is GREAT BAD CAT TOM. Click
here to enlarge the image: (GERD (reflux), Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR), Rhinitis (both allergic and non-allergic) with post-nasal drip (upper airway cough syndrome), Embolism, e.g. PE in adults, Asthma, TB (tuberculosis), Bronchitis, pneumonia, pertussis, Aspiration, e.g foreign body in children, Drugs, e.g. ACE inhibitor, CF in children, Cardiogenic, e.g. mitral stenosis in adults, Achalasia in adults, Thyroid enlargement, e.g. goiter, "Thoughts" (psychogenic), Other causes, Malignancy, e.g. lung cancer in adults).
References:
One hundred coughs. Can Fam Physician, Vol. 54, No. 2, February 2008, pp.236 - 237.
The Lancet Seminar:
Prevalence, pathogenesis, and causes of chronic cough and
Management of chronic cough. The Lancet 2008; 371:1375-1384.
Image source:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, fair use.
Related:
Diagnosis of chronic cough in childrenGreen or yellow phlegm likely to be bacterial - confirming beliefs by doctors & patients
http://goo.gl/zff8X and
http://goo.gl/cwKGsChronic Cough - COLA video lecture http://bit.ly/URcUQa:
Clinical approach from the concept of cough hypersensitivity - figure: http://buff.ly/1Jej9Cq