Non specific antitussive therapy has a limited place. It is best used when only when specific therapy will not work or when the etiology of the cough is unknown. Sometimes antitussive therapy is warranted if a cough is persistent enough to interfere with sleep. Tutorial on Cough. Part II Conditions in Which Cough Is a Symptom.
Acute cough is transient.
It occurs most frequently in association with the common cold. On occasion is it may represent a potentially life threatening condition such as pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Sometimes an acute cough can persist and become a chronic cough. Chronic cough can sometimes be due to more than one condition. Patients with PNDS present with cough, a sensation of something dripping into the throat, a need to clear the throat, a tickle in the throat, nasal congestion and or nasal discharge.