The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by a cough:
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Pulmonary edema1 (water retention in the lungs) [symptoms: tachypnea (respiratory rate > 20/min), dyspnea (shortness of breath), exacerbated breath sounds, moist RGs/rales].
- Pneumothorax1 (collapse of the lung caused by an accumulation of air between the visceral pleura (lung pleura) and the parietal pleura (chest pleura)) [symptoms: stabbing chest pain, asymmetric chest movement, unilateral attenuated breath sound, hypersonoric (loud and hollow) knocking sound]
- Status asthmaticus1 (expiratory stridor (breath sound on exhalation), dry RGs; CAVE: “silent chest“).
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).
- Pulmonary embolism1+2 (pulmonary artery embolism or pulmonary artery thromboembolism) – blockage of a pulmonary vessel by a blood clot (blood clot) called a thrombus [symptoms: tachycardia (heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute), tachypnea, dyspnea, chest pain].
Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux (reflux) of acid gastric juice and other gastric contents.
Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).
- Neoplasms (e.g., bronchial carcinoma; especially in smokers (caveat: change in cough quality in smokers) or occupational exposure to carcinogens (e.g., asbestos); weight loss, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), chest pain, hoarseness
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99).
- Psychogenic cough (synonyms: somatic cough disorder, tic-cough; common in children six to 16 years of age) – compulsion to cough or clear throat.
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
Causes (external) of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y84).
- Foreign body aspiration1+2 – inhalation of foreign substances.
Injuries, poisoning, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).
- Rib fractures (rib fractures).
1Dangerous courses of acute cough2Dangerous courses of chronic cough.