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Cough

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.

How you can treat a cough yourself

There's usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough.

You should:

  • rest
  • drink plenty of fluids
  • try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

You could also try:

  • paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
  • hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old)
  • a herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over)

But there's limited evidence to show these work. Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect to cough medicines.

How to make a hot lemon and honey drink
  1. Squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water.
  2. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey.
  3. Drink while still warm (do not give hot drinks to small children).
Information:

Some medicines and herbal treatments are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.

A pharmacist can help if you have a cough

If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist about:

  • cough syrup
  • cough medicine (some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12 years old)
  • cough sweets

These will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less.

Decongestants and cough medicines containing codeine will not stop your cough.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)
  • you're losing weight for no reason
  • you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing
  • you feel very unwell
  • you have chest pain
  • the side of your neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)
  • you find it hard to breathe
  • you're coughing up blood

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

What happens at your appointment

To find out what's causing your cough, the GP might:

  • listen to your chest with a stethoscope
  • take a sample of any mucus you might be coughing up
  • order an X-ray, allergy test, or a test to see how well your lungs work
  • refer you to hospital to see a specialist, but this is rare

Important

Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs. A GP will only prescribe them if you need them – for example, if you have a bacterial infection or you're at risk of complications.

What causes coughs

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu.

Other causes include:

  • smoking
  • heartburn (acid reflux)
  • allergies – for example, hay fever
  • infections like bronchitis or COVID-19
  • mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose

A cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer.

Video: Coughs

In this video, a GP describes the most common causes of coughs and how they can be treated.

Media last reviewed: 1 May 2021
Media review due: 1 May 2024

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Page last reviewed: 08 December 2023
Next review due: 08 December 2026