Introduction to JTD Cough Section

‘Three things cannot be hidden: coughing, poverty and love’. This is originally Yiddish proverb, quoted in many texts and movies, which may well describe the hypersensitive nature of cough (1). The cough reflex is a primary airway defense mechanism against aspiration, but when dysregulated, it becomes a problem commonly presenting as irresistible bouts with hypersensitivity to various innocuous environmental or behavioral triggers (2). Importantly, cough is a common problem in general populations and is the single most common symptom for medical visits (3-5).