Cough in Respiratory and Autoimmune Disorders

Cough is one of the commonest symptoms of medical importance with significant physical and psychosocial morbidity associated with it. The differential diagnosis of cough is very extensive and it is extremely important to investigate this symptom in a systematic manner to accurately diagnose the cause. Furthermore, the multi-factorial etiology of cough in respiratory diseases should not be ignored while managing this group of patients. In this review, we discuss the relationship of cough with certain respiratory disorders including airways and lung parenchyma. Moreover, the association of cough with autoimmune diseases, lung malignancy and obstructive sleep apnea is also reviewed.