While often dismissed as a mere annoyance, coughing serves a vital function in maintaining respiratory health and clearing foreign materials and irritants from our airways.
How do we diagnose chronic cough?
At Louisiana ENT Specialists, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing chronic cough. After an initial evaluation by our otolaryngologists (ENT), you may be referred to a pulmonologist or gastroenterologist to evaluate potential underlying causes related to the lungs or digestive system.
- Physical examination: This includes a comprehensive review of your medical history and symptoms.
- Lung function test: Also known as spirometry, this test measures how much air you can inhale and exhale and how quickly you empty air from your lungs.
- Chest x-ray: This non-invasive test helps identify any abnormalities or diseases in your lungs that might be causing the cough.
- CT scan: A CT scan provides a detailed image of your lungs and can detect conditions like infections or tumors.
- Bronchoscopy: This procedure allows doctors to examine your airway through a thin viewing instrument called a bronchoscope.
- Laryngoscopy: This involves examining the back of your throat, including your larynx, with a mirror or a laryngoscope.
- Allergy tests: Skin or blood tests can determine whether allergies might be causing your chronic cough.
- Acid reflux test: Also known as esophageal pH monitoring, this test measures the amount of acid that flows from the stomach to the esophagus to check for signs of acid reflux.
- Sputum culture: This test is performed to detect and identify bacteria or fungi infecting the lungs or breathing passages.