Cough no other symptoms
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Chronic Cough with No Other Symptoms: Potential Causes and Management
Cough-Variant Asthma (CVA)
Asthma as a Common Cause of Chronic Cough
Asthma is a prevalent cause of chronic cough, particularly in adult nonsmokers. While asthma typically presents with symptoms like dyspnea and wheezing, it can also manifest solely as a chronic cough, a condition known as cough-variant asthma (CVA). This form of asthma can be challenging to diagnose because physical examinations and spirometry results may appear normal. However, bronchial hyperresponsiveness can be detected through methacholine inhalation challenge testing. The definitive diagnosis of CVA is confirmed when the cough resolves with antiasthmatic therapy, which generally includes inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids. In some cases, leukotriene receptor antagonists or a short course of oral corticosteroids may be necessary.
Cough in Athletes
Exercise-Induced Cough
Athletes often experience cough, particularly after exercise. The primary causes of cough in this population include asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, respiratory tract infections (RTIs), and upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) due to rhinitis. Environmental exposures related to the sport training environment and exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction are also notable causes. Despite the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among athletes, there is a lack of specific studies linking GERD to cough in this group.
Assessment and Treatment
The assessment of cough in athletes typically involves bronchoprovocation tests and disease-specific investigations. However, the evidence guiding the treatment of cough in athletes is limited. Until more targeted management studies are conducted, current guidelines for the general population should be applied, considering the specific training context and anti-doping regulations.
Conclusion
Chronic cough without other symptoms can be indicative of conditions like cough-variant asthma or exercise-induced cough in athletes. Accurate diagnosis often requires specific tests such as methacholine challenge testing or bronchoprovocation tests. Treatment generally follows standard antiasthmatic protocols, but further research is needed to develop tailored management strategies for specific populations like athletes.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic