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2. Persistent Cough
A cough is another common symptom associated with asthma. There is a form of asthma called cough variant asthma where a cough is the only symptom. The cough is dry and without mucus, lasting more than six to eight weeks, and can happen anytime during the day or night. Cough variant asthma is seen more often in children and can progress over time, turning into the classic asthma associated with the typical symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Most asthma sufferers will have a productive cough, and the sputum is either clear or sticky (medically known as “mucoid” sputum). Many other conditions can cause a cough, including bronchitis, pneumonia and heart disease, and therefore a doctor may want to order some tests to rule them out.
Resources
Merck Manuals (Asthma)WebMD (What Is Cough-Variant Asthma?)Merck Manuals (Asthma in Children)Sleep Foundation (Asthma and Sleep)
From allergies to environmental irritants, there are many causes behind asthma. Find out if asthma is hereditary and can be passed down.
