Cough

There's usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough.

You should:

• rest
• drink plenty of fluids
• try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

You could also try:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
• hot lemon and honey, which can have a similar effect to cough syrup (not suitable for babies under 1 year old)
• a herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over)

But there's limited evidence to show that hot lemon and honey and herbal medicines help ease a cough.

1. Squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water.
2. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey.
3. Drink while still warm (do not give hot drinks to small children).

Some medicines and herbal treatments are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.

If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist about:

• cough syrup
• cough medicine (some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12 years old)
• cough sweets

These will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less.

Decongestants and cough medicines containing codeine will not stop your cough.

• you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)
• you're losing weight for no reason
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

To find out what's causing your cough, the GP might:

• listen to your chest with a stethoscope
• take a sample of any mucus you might be coughing up
• order an X-ray, allergy test, or a test to see how well your lungs work
• refer you to hospital to see a specialist, but this is rare

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu.

Other causes include:

• smoking
• heartburn (acid reflux)
• allergies – for example, hay fever
• infections like bronchitis or COVID-19
• mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose

A cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer.

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu. Other causes include smoking, heartburn (acid reflux), allergies and infections like bronchitis.

You can treat a cough yourself. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. You could also try hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old).

You can ask a pharmacist about cough syrup, cough medicine and cough sweets. These will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less.