Cough

Question 1

Types of cough

Answer 1

Non-productive: dry, tickly

Productive: chesty sputum

Question 2

Referral on coughs

Answer 2

• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Pain when breathing in
• Shortness of breath
• Recurrent night-time cough (maybe indicate uncontrolled/undiagnosed asthma)
• Whooping cough/pertussis - caused by bacterial infection with a ‘whoop’ sound when breathing in
• Croup - sound like barking
• Blood in sputum
• Coloured sputum, may indicate infection that should be managed with antibiotics

Question 3

Decongestants

Answer 3

Xylometazoline, Oxymetazoline, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine

Question 4

Anti-tussives

Answer 4

Pholcodine, Dextromethorpan, Codeine linctus (18+) - should be used last line as it is more likely to be abused

Question 5

Expectorants

Answer 5

Guaifenesin, Ipecacuanha

Question 6

Anti-histamines

Answer 6

Can also be used for chesty coughs as they dry secretions and may allow of an uninterrupted night sleep

e.g

Diphenhydramine (benzoin chesty cough)
Promethazine (night nurse)
Tiprolidine (acted multi-action chesty cough)

Question 7

Demulcents (used to coat the back of the throat and reduce irritation)

Answer 7

Glycerol
Simply linctus

Question 8

Children under 6 years cannot have cough produce containing these ingredients.
These products containing these ingredients can be used 2nd line in 6-12 year olds.

Answer 8

Antihistamines

Anti-tussives

Expectorants

Decongestants

Question 9

Sugar-free products in diabetes

Answer 9

Sugar free products do not contain glucose, fructose or sucrose