Chronic Cough Relief & Treatment
Chicago Allergist

Dr. Brian Rotskoff specializes in treating even the most challenging chronic cough patients. For many people, a chronic cough leads to considerable suffering despite countless trips to the doctor and many failed treatment regimens. Until patients receive an accurate diagnosis – one that often involves the discovery of multiple conditions – attempting to control a cough is futile.

90% of Dr. Rotskoff’s patients enjoy lasting chronic cough relief

What is a chronic cough?

Chronic Cough

one that is resistant to treatment, including antibiotics, cough suppressants, allergy medications, or inhalers; and that continues for 4-6 weeks or more.

Often a persistent cough has very little to do with a cold or respiratory infection. It is important to realize that chronic cough is not a diagnosis, but rather a symptom of at least one underlying condition.

Chronic cough causes

Outside of smoking, the three most common causes of persistent or chronic cough are:

• Post-nasal drip

Whether the result of allergies or illness, post-nasal drainage creates a constant throat and airway irritant that leads to chronic cough.

• Asthma

Asthma can often cause persistent coughing, though it is seldom explored in chronic cough patients. For some, a cough may actually be their only asthma symptom. Chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath do not have to be present for an asthma diagnosis.

• Acid reflux

When chronic cough is accompanied by frequent throat clearing, acid reflux is often to blame. Since coughing is essentially caused by an irritated airway, it makes sense that acid reflux, pulling acid up from the stomach, can lead to chronic airway inflammation and chronic cough.

Chronic cough relief

So how do you know which condition is causing your cough? Dr. Rotskoff is one of few chronic cough experts who understands that, for most patients, there is not one singular cause. In the absence of an infection, refractory chronic cough can be challenging for some doctors to diagnose. Very often, it is a complex and compounding condition involving more than one underlying issue.

Chronic cough treatment cannot be curative until each source is identified and treated. Thorough diagnosis requires a chest x-ray. Dr. Rotskoff then designs a targeted treatment plan to address each cough cause.

Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy (LSN)

Without proper diagnosis and treatment a chronic cough becomes a challenging cycle. Airways and cough receptors are constantly inflamed with no time to recover, making a person’s cough reflex hypersensitive. In some cases, the larynx and throat become so damaged that Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy (LSN) occurs.

Dr. Rotskoff is a national expert in LSN diagnosis and treatment. Treatment begins by healing the injured tissue and nerves of cough receptors. Curative medications can be used to soothe the damaged throat and larynx, followed by control medications to manage asthma and/or acid reflux, as needed.

Because a chronic cough can occasionally be associated with a more severe underlying medical disorder, all patients with a chronic cough should have their symptoms evaluated by a physician.

Click here to schedule a consultation with chronic cough expert, Brian Rotskoff, MD.