Posted by Betsy in IN on 21:57 Dec 28
The 3 most common reasons for chronic cough are airway disease (asthma being one example), reflux, and a sinus condition (infection and allergies being two examples). ENTs and Pulmonologists usually see and treat more chronic cough than GI specialists.
Of the 3 specialists, a Pulmonologist is probably your best bet, if you had to choose just one to see b/c (s)he is more likely able to diagnose and treat relux or a sinus condition than an ENT is to be able to diagnose an airway condition. A GI physician is unlikely to be able to diagnose/treat anything but reflux.
Is your primary care physician trained in internal medicine? He ought to be able to get you started on some sort of treatment: either for reflux or for a respiratory condition. For instance you can take OTC Prilosec or use an inhaled steroid such as Pulmicort.
Start keeping a diary of symptoms and when they occur, paying particular attention to whether anything specifically triggers your cough.
DH is a pulmonologists and offered these thoughts. Best wishes. (((())))