title: Chronic cough: evaluation and management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To inform the nurse practitioner of the common causes of chronic cough, to educate how each cause can be identified, and to suggest treatment options for the most common causes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected research and review articles from professional journals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic cough is a common presenting complaint in the primary care setting. Although at first the symptom may seem simple, the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic cough can be challenging. Furthermore, without proper identification of the cause, effective treatment most likely will not be obtained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By familiarizing oneself with this topic, nurse practitioners will feel confident in treating chronic cough.
authors.affiliation: St. Alexius Medical Center, Emergency Department in Bismarck, N.D., USA. madler@bis.midco.net
authors.forename: Billie Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Madler
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*