Sinusitis and postnasal drip should be treated when diagnosed, and further evaluation reserved for those whose cough persists despite treatment. Hyperreactive airways may persist for 6 weeks or longer, after a viral upper respiratory tract infection, and may be the cause of a chronic cough.
Treatment mainly consists of mucolytics and supportive care.
After the initial evaluation, if the diagnosis is not obvious, additional testing may be necessary. The workup may include bronchoscopy, pulmonary function testing, tests for reflux, or additional laboratory tests, such as complete blood count and sputum examination.