Cough: bronchospasm or not?

Cough is a frequent presenting complaint, often with a history very similar to that of asthma. This study examines the incidence of bronchospasm among coughers in a family practice. The pathophysiology of cough shows that the irritant receptors for cough and bronchospasm are identical; epithelial damage may result in cough, or bronchospasm, or both. Of 32 patients presenting with cough as their chief complaint, eight were found to have bronchospasm. Since effective treatment depends on correct diagnosis, a precise history of the cough is necessary to differentiate different causes.