Coughs.

What are the symptoms?

Most coughs will be alongside other symptoms, you might have:

• A runny or stuffy nose
• A feeling of liquid running down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
• Frequent throat clearing and sore throat
• Hoarseness

How long could it last?

Most adults recover from a cough within 21 days. If symptoms last longer than they normally would, or you are worried about a young child or elderly relative, speak to your local pharmacist for advice.

When should I visit my GP practice?

In most cases you do not need to see a GP with a cough and it will clear on it’s own but you should book an appointment if:

• you’ve had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)
• Wheezing and shortness of breath
• Heartburn or a sour taste in your mout
• your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse
• you feel very unwell
• you have chest pain
• you’re losing weight for no reason
• the side of your neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)
• you find it hard to breathe
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

See a GP urgently if you’re coughing up blood.

More information can be found here: NHS – Cough

Do I need antibiotics?

Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs as they usually will not relieve your symptoms or speed up recovery. A healthcare professional will only prescribe them if they feel you need them.

What treatment do I need?

Medicines will not stop your cough but they can help you to cough less. If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist about:

• cough syrup
• cough medicine (some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12)
• cough sweets

You can also try:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain caused by your cough
• hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old) can have a similar effect to cough medicine