Oh, look at us, we’ve got a position statement on cough management. Because apparently, coughing is so complex, we need a whole statement about it. So, let’s dive into this thrilling topic, shall we?

First off, if you’re a doctor and someone comes in with a chronic cough, you’re supposed to take a “focused history” of it. Yes, that’s right, you need to know the life story of this cough. Any red flags? Maybe the cough once robbed a bank or has an unpaid parking ticket.

Next, you’re supposed to do an examination, which includes a chest x-ray and spirometry (if the patient is over 6 years old). Because, you know, we can’t just listen to the cough and say “yep, that’s a cough”.

Then, we have separate diagnostic management algorithms for children and adults. Because apparently, a cough in a child is a completely different beast than a cough in an adult.

And let’s not forget about the First Nations adults and children. They’re considered a high-risk group. Because, of course, we need to make sure we’re being culturally sensitive when dealing with…coughs.

If the cough doesn’t resolve or is unexplained, the patient should be referred to a respiratory specialist or cough clinic. Yes, there are entire clinics dedicated to coughs.

And if you’re really interested in this riveting topic, you can check out the full statement at https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/cicada-full-position-statement.

So there you have it, folks. The exciting world of cough management. I don’t know about you, but I’m on the edge of my seat.