When diagnosing the cause of a cough without fever, a doctor will ask about the symptoms a person is experiencing. They may also carry out a physical exam, during which they will use a stethoscope to listen for any unusual sounds in the lungs.
A doctor may also recommend other diagnostic procedures, including:
a chest X-ray or CT scan to check for fluid or abnormalities in the lungs
allergy tests to determine whether the cough is due to an undiagnosed allergy
a sputum test to check for the presence of infectious pathogens
blood tests to check for an infection or inflammation