Steps to Take If You Have a Persistent Cough

Coughing is a natural reflex that helps your body clear your airways. It’s normal to cough occasionally or when you get sick — but if you can’t remember the last time you didn’t have a cough, it might signal an underlying health issue that requires attention.

A cough that lingers even when you’re not feeling under the weather can be a sign of something more serious. Our team at Path MD Labs has the diagnostic testing you need to get answers and start treatment.

Let’s explore common causes of persistent coughs, when they become chronic, and how our respiratory pathogen detection services can help identify the source.

1. Learn the common causes of a cough

Most coughs are temporary and usually caused by irritants in the air and common illnesses like colds, the flu, or respiratory infections. However, a persistent cough is one that lasts longer, and it can be triggered by:

• Postnasal drip, or excess mucus in your throat from allergies or sinus infections
• Asthma, a chronic condition that inflames and narrows your airways
• Acid reflux (GERD), which happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus
• Viral or bacterial infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia
• Smoking

While many of these conditions are treatable, it is important to know when a cough becomes something to be concerned about.

2. Understand when a cough becomes chronic

A cough is generally considered chronic if it lasts for more than eight weeks in adults or four weeks in children. At this stage, your doctor needs to rule out or identify any serious conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, or even lung cancer.

Certain symptoms accompanying a persistent cough, like shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chest pain, or wheezing, require immediate medical attention. Identifying the underlying cause early can help prevent complications and inform your treatment plan.

3. Consider respiratory pathogen detection

If you have a persistent cough and haven’t found out what’s causing it, it may be time for a comprehensive diagnosis. Respiratory pathogen detection, like our Filmarray® Respiratory Panel from Biofire Diagnostics, is a powerful tool in identifying the cause of chronic cough.

This FDA-approved test uses advanced technology to provide a highly sensitive and accurate diagnosis, offering an overall sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 99.3%. This level of accuracy is significantly better than traditional immuno-assay tests, which means you get more reliable answers. Plus, it can detect multiple co-infections, making it especially useful if more than one pathogen is involved in your symptoms.

The test requires only one specimen collection swab, and your results are available within 24 hours. By pinpointing the exact cause of your cough—whether it’s a viral or bacterial infection—your doctor can prescribe targeted treatment, reducing the guesswork and helping you recover more quickly.

If you have a cough that just won’t go away, it’s time to take the next step. Getting the right diagnosis is key to finding the right treatment, and our respiratory pathogen detection panel can help you get clear answers and start on the path to recovery. Contact our Los Angeles, California, office at 424-245-7284 or send us a message online to learn more.