Cough: A New Frontier in Otolaryngology

Both acute and chronic cough are responsible for a significant portion of all ambulatory medical visits annually, over-the-counter self-medication expenses in excess of $3.6 billion in the United States, and impaired quality of life. Yet otolaryngologists only see a small portion of these patients. The diagnosis of cough can be simple or profoundly challenging, and it may be a sentinel indicator of severe underlying disease. The list of diseases that may induce cough is growing, along with an appreciation of their interrelations. These include upper and lower airway diseases, related through the unified airway concept. Gastroesophageal reflux, aspiration, neurologic reflexes, tumor, and systemic diseases are also important. Otolaryngologists are playing an increasingly valuable role in the multidisciplinary approach to these challenging cough patients and master many procedures associated with their evaluation and treatment. There are also leadership opportunities in building coordinated teams to further patient care.