Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesWhen to See a ProviderHome RemediesDiagnosisMedicationPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
When to See a Provider
Home Remedies
Diagnosis
Medication
Prevention
Lingering coughs afterupper respiratory infectionslike the common cold or flu are called post-infectious or post-viral coughs. A lingering cough is mostly dry and is often referred to as “sub-acute,” meaning it persists for more than three weeks after the infection, but less than eight.
Post-infectiouscoughsare a common type of lingering cough, affecting between 11% and 25% of adults who have recently had an upper respiratory infection.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Causes a Lingering Cough After a Cold?
Lingering coughs often happen with upper respiratory tract infections. These types of infections occur anywhere within the nose, sinuses, throat (pharynx), or voicebox (larynx). In addition to a cough, symptoms may include:
These symptoms generally last seven to 14 days.
Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of post-infectious cough. These include having an upper respiratory infection that causes large amounts of mucus and/or the inability to adequately clear mucus from the lungs.
Inflammation in the airways can cause swelling and increased mucus production. This leads to postnatal drip. When the mucus runs down your throat it can cause irritation, leading to a cough.
The risk of having a lingering cough tends to increase the longer a person is ill with an upper respiratory infection.
Other Causes of a Lingering Cough
A lingering cough can also have causes unrelated to an infection. These include issues like:
These are less likely causes of a lingering cough, but it is important to see your healthcare provider to rule them out.
A cough from COVID-19 commonly lasts an average of 19 days. In about 5% of patients, a COVID cough can last about four weeks.However, some people develop a condition known as long COVID. With long COVID, symptoms persist beyond four weeks after the diagnosis. If you are still coughing significantly a month after getting sick, see your doctor for further evaluation of a lingering cough after COVID.
A cough from COVID-19 commonly lasts an average of 19 days. In about 5% of patients, a COVID cough can last about four weeks.
However, some people develop a condition known as long COVID. With long COVID, symptoms persist beyond four weeks after the diagnosis. If you are still coughing significantly a month after getting sick, see your doctor for further evaluation of a lingering cough after COVID.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A lingering cough on its own is not always a reason to worry. However, it’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing a lingering cough and any of these symptoms:
It can take eight weeks for a cough to go away following an infection, but if the cough is interrupting your day-to-day life or seems to be getting worse, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Doctors Recommend This Hot Drink to Ease Cough Symptoms
Non-medical treatments may help ease a lingering cough. Certain home remedies are reasonable approaches to managing a post-infectious cough. Some people may even find them more soothing than other therapies.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oilis a colorless or pale yellow liquid that has a number of potential health benefits, including relieving post-infectious cough.
Who Should Not Use Eucalyptus Oil?Eucalyptus oil should not be used with children younger than 2. Do not use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Who Should Not Use Eucalyptus Oil?
Eucalyptus oil should not be used with children younger than 2. Do not use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Never ingest eucalyptus oil because it’s toxic if consumed. Even when inhaled or applied to the skin, eucalyptus oil may interact with various medications, so be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are using it.
Honey and Tea/Coffee
Drinking tea mixed with honey is a classic home remedy for treating a nagging cough. Experts suspect the medicinal effect of honey may be due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
For adults with a post-infectious cough, drinking coffee with honey in it has also been found to soothe a lingering cough, though the studies that have been done so far are small, and more research is needed.
Hydrate
Staying well-hydrated can help thin mucus, making it easier to clear.Make sure you’re drinking enough fluids every day. If your urine is clear or pale yellow, it’s a sign that you are well-hydrated.
Saline Rinse
A saline rinse may also help clear out mucus and improve your cough. Try using an over-the-counter saline nose spray, or make your own solution from distilled water and table salt:
Humidifier
By releasing moisture into the air, a humidifier may help clear mucus and ease a lingering cough. Some humidifiers may have a feature that allows you to add essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint oil for extra cough relief.
For children, be sure to use a cool-mist humidifier. Warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers can burn your child if they get too close to the steam.
Also, clean your humidifier daily, if possible, to prevent bacteria andmold from growing.
Gargle With Salt Water
To gargle salt water:
If you’re not sure if your young child can reliably spit the water out, avoid having them try to gargle.
How Is a Lingering Cough Diagnosed?
A lingering cough can last up to eight weeks. The diagnosis of post-infectious lingering cough is clinical, meaning it is based primarily on your symptoms and physical exam.
Your healthcare provider will ask you questions about when your cold symptoms started, what they were, the characteristics of your current cough, and whether you have any other symptoms.
They will also check your vitals (e.g., fever, heart rate, etc.) and perform a physical exam, during which they will look inside your nose and listen to your heart andlung soundswith a stethoscope.
A recent viral upper respiratory infection, a lack of fever, clear lungs, and a cough that has persisted for fewer than eight weeks are signs of a post-infectious cough. Still, your healthcare provider may want to rule out other possible causes of your lingering cough, including:
If you have a history of heart or lung issues, see your healthcare provider to rule out non-infectious causes of your cough.
Depending on your healthcare provider’s ideas about the cause, various other tests may need to be performed before moving on to a treatment plan for a lingering cough that won’t go away.
For example, your healthcare provider may order a chestX-ray. Findings should be normal with a diagnosis of post-infectious cough.
Tests like acomputed tomography (CT) scanof your sinuses or chest or apH monitoring test(measures the acidity level within youresophagus) may also be ordered.
Medication for a Lingering Cough
Even if it’s not serious, having a lingering cough can be very annoying and disruptive. A post-infectious cough can significantly impact your quality of life. You may find it difficult to sleep or get your work done at home or at your job.
Medications for Postnasal Drip
To avoid harmful side effects or medication interactions, be sure to check in with your healthcare provider about any treatments for a lingering cough you plan to try.
A lingering cough related to postnasal drip is treated with anantihistaminelike Dayhist (clemastine) or chlorpheniramine.
While more sedating than newer drugs, these particular antihistamines are more effective at minimizing a post-viral cough.
If you are unable to tolerate the sedating effects of these medications, your healthcare provider may suggest a nasal spray likeAstelin (azelastine),Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate), or Atrovent nasal spray (ipratropium bromide) to help with a lingering cough.
The following antihistamines may also be tried:
Medications for Inflammation
Some treatments for a lingering cough are a little more involved. A post-infectious cough related to inflammatory changes in airway tissue is treated similarly toasthma.
Your healthcare provider may perform amethacholine challenge testin which you breathe in a drug that narrows your airways. If it affects your ability to breathe well, you will be prescribed one or more of the following types of medications, depending on the severity of your symptoms:
If the test does not show that you have sensitive airways, your healthcare provider may prescribe Atrovent HFA (inhaled ipratropium bromide).
Over-the-Counter Cough Medications
Even though there isn’t much scientific evidence to back up their use, many people turn to over-the-counter medications to help with a lingering cough that won’t go away.
Unfortunately, the benefit of these lozenges is questionable. In fact, experts suspect that cough drops maybe not be any better for managing your cough than sucking on a piece of hard candy.
There is also some concern that menthol, which cools and numbs your throat, may actually worsen a lingering cough.
How to Prevent a Lingering Cough
If you want to avoid getting a lingering cough that won’t go away, prevention is key. There are a few easy steps you can take to prevent developing an upper respiratory illness and a subsequent post-infectious cough.
These steps include:
If you happen to get sick with an upper respiratory infection, resting your body is important to give your body a better chance for a quick and full recovery. Studies show that the risk of getting a lingering cough increases with the duration of the illness.
In addition, try and avoid potential environmental irritants that may trigger or worsen a nagging cough, like dust or smoke.
Summary
A post-infectious cough is a lingering cough from an upper respiratory infection, like the common cold or flu, that persists for up to eight weeks after the infection has otherwise cleared.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liang K, Hui P, Green S.Postinfectious cough in adults. CMAJ. 2024;196(5):E157. doi:10.1503/cmaj.231523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common cold.Weinberger SE, Silvestri RC.Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. UpToDate.Lai K, Shen H, Zhou X, et al.Clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of cough—Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS) Asthma Consortium.J Thorac Dis.2018;10(11):6314–51. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.09.153Weston S, Frieman MB.Respiratory viruses. In: Schmidt TM, ed.Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press; 2019:85–101. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.66161-5Song WJ, Hui CKM, Hull JH, et al.Confronting COVID-19-associated cough and the post-COVID syndrome: role of viral neurotropism, neuroinflammation, and neuroimmune responses.Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(5):533–44. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00125-9UCLA Health.Is a lingering cough after a cold normal?Horváth G and Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J.2015;30(5):331–341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Mount Sinai.Eucalyptus.Arentz S, Hunter J, Khamba B, Mravunac M, Lee Z, Alexander K, Lauche R, Goldenberg J, Myers SP.Honeybee products for the treatment and recovery from viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2: A rapid systematic review.J Aust Coll Nutr Environ Med. 2022;41(1):24-36. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2021.100779American Lung Association.Treating and managing chronic cough.Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580. PMID:29094873MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.Johnson D, Mead R, Kennelty K, Hahn D.Menthol cough drops: cause for concern?J Am Board Fam Med.2018;31(2):183-191. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza (flu): preventive steps.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liang K, Hui P, Green S.Postinfectious cough in adults. CMAJ. 2024;196(5):E157. doi:10.1503/cmaj.231523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common cold.Weinberger SE, Silvestri RC.Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. UpToDate.Lai K, Shen H, Zhou X, et al.Clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of cough—Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS) Asthma Consortium.J Thorac Dis.2018;10(11):6314–51. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.09.153Weston S, Frieman MB.Respiratory viruses. In: Schmidt TM, ed.Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press; 2019:85–101. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.66161-5Song WJ, Hui CKM, Hull JH, et al.Confronting COVID-19-associated cough and the post-COVID syndrome: role of viral neurotropism, neuroinflammation, and neuroimmune responses.Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(5):533–44. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00125-9UCLA Health.Is a lingering cough after a cold normal?Horváth G and Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J.2015;30(5):331–341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Mount Sinai.Eucalyptus.Arentz S, Hunter J, Khamba B, Mravunac M, Lee Z, Alexander K, Lauche R, Goldenberg J, Myers SP.Honeybee products for the treatment and recovery from viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2: A rapid systematic review.J Aust Coll Nutr Environ Med. 2022;41(1):24-36. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2021.100779American Lung Association.Treating and managing chronic cough.Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580. PMID:29094873MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.Johnson D, Mead R, Kennelty K, Hahn D.Menthol cough drops: cause for concern?J Am Board Fam Med.2018;31(2):183-191. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza (flu): preventive steps.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liang K, Hui P, Green S.Postinfectious cough in adults. CMAJ. 2024;196(5):E157. doi:10.1503/cmaj.231523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common cold.Weinberger SE, Silvestri RC.Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. UpToDate.Lai K, Shen H, Zhou X, et al.Clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of cough—Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS) Asthma Consortium.J Thorac Dis.2018;10(11):6314–51. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.09.153Weston S, Frieman MB.Respiratory viruses. In: Schmidt TM, ed.Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press; 2019:85–101. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.66161-5Song WJ, Hui CKM, Hull JH, et al.Confronting COVID-19-associated cough and the post-COVID syndrome: role of viral neurotropism, neuroinflammation, and neuroimmune responses.Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(5):533–44. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00125-9UCLA Health.Is a lingering cough after a cold normal?Horváth G and Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J.2015;30(5):331–341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Mount Sinai.Eucalyptus.Arentz S, Hunter J, Khamba B, Mravunac M, Lee Z, Alexander K, Lauche R, Goldenberg J, Myers SP.Honeybee products for the treatment and recovery from viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2: A rapid systematic review.J Aust Coll Nutr Environ Med. 2022;41(1):24-36. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2021.100779American Lung Association.Treating and managing chronic cough.Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580. PMID:29094873MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.Johnson D, Mead R, Kennelty K, Hahn D.Menthol cough drops: cause for concern?J Am Board Fam Med.2018;31(2):183-191. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170363Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza (flu): preventive steps.
Liang K, Hui P, Green S.Postinfectious cough in adults. CMAJ. 2024;196(5):E157. doi:10.1503/cmaj.231523
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common cold.
Weinberger SE, Silvestri RC.Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. UpToDate.
Lai K, Shen H, Zhou X, et al.Clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of cough—Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS) Asthma Consortium.J Thorac Dis.2018;10(11):6314–51. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.09.153
Weston S, Frieman MB.Respiratory viruses. In: Schmidt TM, ed.Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press; 2019:85–101. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.66161-5
Song WJ, Hui CKM, Hull JH, et al.Confronting COVID-19-associated cough and the post-COVID syndrome: role of viral neurotropism, neuroinflammation, and neuroimmune responses.Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(5):533–44. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00125-9
UCLA Health.Is a lingering cough after a cold normal?
Horváth G and Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J.2015;30(5):331–341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Mount Sinai.Eucalyptus.
Arentz S, Hunter J, Khamba B, Mravunac M, Lee Z, Alexander K, Lauche R, Goldenberg J, Myers SP.Honeybee products for the treatment and recovery from viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2: A rapid systematic review.J Aust Coll Nutr Environ Med. 2022;41(1):24-36. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2021.100779
American Lung Association.Treating and managing chronic cough.
Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.
Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580. PMID:29094873
MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.
MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.
Johnson D, Mead R, Kennelty K, Hahn D.Menthol cough drops: cause for concern?J Am Board Fam Med.2018;31(2):183-191. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170363
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza (flu): preventive steps.
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