# What's the medical definition of 'persistent cough'?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 11, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319 "2004-12-11T16:20:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319/1 "2004-12-11T16:20:23Z")

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That’s it.

I should have asked this question of the Dr. yesterday, but I didn’t.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319/2 "2004-12-11T16:29:57Z")

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I’m not sure. It would depend on the context.

Pertussis (whooping cough) often lasts three months, hence its nickname “the hundred day cough”. This is clearly persistent.

Chronic bronchitis (acute exacerbation of; AECB) recalls, IIRC, cough with productive sputum, intermittently, for perhaps three months per year. This is a disease, mainly of smokers, along the lines of COPD/emphysema.

In the setting of a simple cold, I would define persistent (for no good reason) as perhaps longer than a week or two. I’m not sure there is a generally accepted definition. Perhaps another medical professional can enlighten us.

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**Author:** ![caymus28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@caymus28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caymus28)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319/3 "2004-12-11T17:11:02Z")

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[PERSISTENT COUGH - a patient’s guide](http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/persistentcough.htm). It seems to be one that no longer serves a purpose of expelling mucous, etc., and lasts more than 3 weeks.

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**Author:** ![caymus28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@caymus28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caymus28)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319/4 "2004-12-11T17:12:48Z")

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[PERSISTENT COUGH - a patient’s guide](http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/persistentcough.htm). It seems to be one that no longer serves a purpose of expelling mucous, etc., and lasts more than 3 weeks.

[Another cite](http://www.regionshospital.com/Regions/Menu/0,1592,2974,00.html)suggests the same.

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-definition-of-persistent-cough/279319/5 "2004-12-11T17:35:52Z")

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Thank you both.