Most coughs are viral, and most viral coughs get better on their own in a week or two without any treatment at all. Antibiotics do nothing for them. That is worth knowing, because it saves you a trip and it saves the antibiotics for when they will actually work.
But some coughs are worth having looked at, and a few need to be seen the same day.
Come in the same day if
- You are short of breath at rest, or struggling to finish a sentence
- There is chest pain when you breathe in
- You are coughing up blood
- A child is breathing fast, pulling in at the ribs, or is unusually drowsy
- You have a high fever that is not coming down
These are the ones not to sit on. If the practice is closed, go to your nearest emergency department.
Book an appointment if
- The cough has gone past three weeks
- You are losing weight without trying, or sweating at night
- It keeps coming back every few weeks
- You have asthma, COPD, diabetes or another long term condition and the cough is new
- You are on chronic medication and the cough started after a change to it
The three week mark matters in South Africa. A cough that has lasted longer than that, especially with weight loss or night sweats, is the standard reason to test for TB. It is a simple test and it is far better to have done it and be clear.
You can usually manage at home
A cough with a runny nose and a mild sore throat, no fever, and no shortness of breath is very likely viral. Rest, fluids, and time do the work. Honey in warm water helps the throat as well as most cough syrups do, though not for children under one year.
If you are not improving after ten days, or you get better and then get worse again, that second dip is worth a visit.
What we will actually do
We listen to your chest, ask how long it has been going on, and check the things that separate a virus from something that needs treating. Often the useful outcome is being told you do not need anything. That is a good result, not a wasted visit.
If you are unsure, phone reception. It is a short conversation and it is free.