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Rhinitis and Cough

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Abstract

A cough is a complex neurogenic reflex that forms part of the innate protective mechanisms of the airways. The function of coughing is to clear the airways of noxious stimuli (microbes, chemicals, and physical); however, many medical conditions, including those of the upper airways, evoke cough, which in itself may be a major symptom of the particular disease state. This chapter is structured to overview the neural and molecular mechanisms involved in the detection and reaction to stimuli, causes of cough with a focus on upper airway etiologies, and two case studies to contextualize this information.

Love and a cough cannot be hid.

George Herbert (British Poet 1593–1633)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia

    Peter K. Smith

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  1. Division of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Jonathan A. Bernstein

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Smith, P.K. (2018). Rhinitis and Cough. In: Bernstein, J. (eds) Rhinitis and Related Upper Respiratory Conditions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75370-6_9

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