Upper airway cough syndrome

Abstract

Coughing is one of the key natural ways the airway has to defend itself. Mucus is secreted and then expelled by mucociliary clearance in healthy people. However, if the level of secreted mucus is such as to exceed the capacity of mucociliary clearance, coughing takes over as a key factor in expelling mucus. Occasional coughing is beneficial in removing debris and secreted substances from the lower airway and is beneficial in stopping infection. Cough, nonetheless, is amongst the most frequent of presenting complaints and may also herald a number of diseases affecting the respiratory tract, as well as other conditions. A cough which endures more than 8 weeks is, by definition, chronic. Chronic cough has a variety of aetiologies, and in most instances several factors operate at once. The most frequent reason for a persistent cough is upper airway cough syndrome (UACS), which used to be known as postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS). UACS is challenging to diagnose and manage, whilst at the same time, it can have a markedly negative impact on the sufferer's quality of life. UACS may occur secondary to several diseases which affect the proximal airway, such as diseases of the nose or sinuses, anatomical anomalies, rhinitis (physical or chemical) or disorders affecting the pharynx.