Chronic cough and throat clearing can be due to diseases of the throat, especially when they are not associated with lung diseases. Often patients will have had an assessment of the chest and treatments including antibiotics and inhalers with no improvement. Most non pulmonary chronic cough is due to Acid reflux and nasal conditions. Acid passing up into the gullet, even when it is causing no other symptoms can cause coughing. Patients may get reflux at night and wake with the need to cough and clear phlegm from the throat.
Patients with this annoying symptom will be assessed by a history of the condition and examination in the clinic including a flexible endoscopic examination of the throat under local anaesthetic. We work closely with our gastroenterology and chest physician colleagues and can cross refer when necessary.
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