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Palliative cancer care - cough - Management
How should I manage a person with a cough of known cause other than infection?
- Determine with the person, and their carers and family, what management interventions are appropriate for the underlying cause of cough and the stage of illness, for example:
- Treatment of the underlying cause of the cough if possible.
- Referral for treatment of the underlying malignancy if needed (e.g. radiotherapy to a tumour, drainage of a pleural effusion).
- Referral if the cause of the cough is not directly related to the underlying malignancy, but is more appropriately managed in secondary care (e.g. worsening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
- Admission to hospital (e.g. acute exacerbation of heart failure).
- If treatment of the underlying cause is not possible, or does not relieve the cough, consider symptomatic treatment (e.g. to enhance the effectiveness of, or suppress, the cough). For more information, see Scenario: Symptomatic treatment.
In depth
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