Coughs: Check Your Symptoms

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have the following symptom, evaluate that symptom first:

• A fever: Go to the topic:
  • Fever, Age 4 and Older.
  • Fever, Age 3 and Younger.

Yes

Does your child have a cough?

Yes

Are you wheezing?

Yes

Do you have mild difficulty breathing?

Yes

Do you have pain in the muscles or ribs of the chest (chest wall pain)?

Yes

Are you coughing up bloody sputum that is bright red or rust-colored mucus (hemoptysis)?

Yes

Do you have a productive cough?

Yes

Do you have a dry (nonproductive) cough?

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• Heartburn: Go to the topic Heartburn.
• Other respiratory or cold symptoms: Go to the topic:
  • Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger.
  • Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older.
• Sore throat: Go to the topic Sore Throat.
• Ear problems: Go to the topic:
  • Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger.
  • Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Last updated:	February 25, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer