In this section
@article{Lee:2025:10.1183/2312508X.10026224,
author = {Lee, YJ and Birring, SS and Chung, KF and Dicpinigaitis, PV and Gibson, PG and Mazzone, SB and McGarvey, L and Morice, AH and Oliveira, A and Song, WJ},
doi = {10.1183/2312508X.10026224},
journal = {Ers Monograph},
pages = {1--10},
title = {Chronic cough: nomenclature and classification},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10026224},
volume = {2025-December},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - CC imposes a significant burden on patients and remains a frequent challenge in routine practice. Current evidence indicates that CC is not merely a symptom, but represents a distinct disease entity characterised by dysregulation of the cough reflex. Nevertheless, current classification remains restricted to symptom duration (e.g. >8 weeks), lacking terminology that reflects underlying mechanisms or informs clinical decision-making. Accurate disease naming and classification are essential for effective communication between clinicians and patients, appropriate diagnostic coding and reimbursement, policy development and epidemiological tracking. In ICD-10, cough is listed solely as a symptom code. The advent of ICD-11 enables a more accurate and mechanism-based representation of diseases, as seen in the reclassification of chronic pain and allergic conditions. Many patients with CC demonstrate intrinsic pathophysiological features such as cough reflex hypersensitivity, which are not adequately captured by existing terms such as RCC or UCC. These labels may also carry unintended connotations of therapeutic failure or diagnostic ambiguity. This chapter outlines a rationale for redefining CC as a disease entity, grounded in recent advances in pathophysiology and clinical phenotyping. It proposes updated diagnostic terminology and a roadmap for future integration into classification systems such as ICD-11, aiming to improve patient care, resource allocation and research frameworks.
AU - Lee,YJ
AU - Birring,SS
AU - Chung,KF
AU - Dicpinigaitis,PV
AU - Gibson,PG
AU - Mazzone,SB
AU - McGarvey,L
AU - Morice,AH
AU - Oliveira,A
AU - Song,WJ
DO - 10.1183/2312508X.10026224
EP - 10
PY - 2025///
SN - 2312-508X
SP - 1
TI - Chronic cough: nomenclature and classification
T2 - Ers Monograph
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10026224
VL - 2025-December
ER -