Have you had a cough for over two months, and no matter what you do, it just won't go away? These are the risks of a chronic cough.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people around the world have suffered from symptoms of a chronic cough. According to Mayo Clinic pulmonologist Jorge Pascual, this condition occurs when a person experiences the involuntary coughing reflex for more than eight weeks. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies, sinusitis, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or infections.

According to Pascual, one of the world's leading experts on this topic and the current founder of a clinic specializing in this disease, chronic cough can even become life-threatening. According to data from a scientific study published in the journal Archivos de Bronconeumología, the prevalence of chronic cough in the general population varies between 3.3% and 12%, depending on factors such as smoking and environmental pollution.

In Colombia, however, the specific prevalence of this disease is unknown due to the lack of comprehensive epidemiological studies. One of the most relevant studies on this topic, published in the scientific journal of the Faculty of Medicine of the Nueva Granada Military University, investigated the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in a population in the Cauca Valley and found that the prevalence of cough in the study population was 18.1%.

Pascual, who has 26 years of experience as a pulmonologist, has focused part of his medical practice on chronic cough, an often overlooked condition that can seriously impair a person's quality of life. In an interview with EL TIEMPO, he stated that he has seen cases in which patients have suffered fractures or social isolation due to episodes of persistent coughing.

“I've seen patients faint from coughing, break ribs, and lose weight from vomiting. And the social aspect is very difficult. Since the pandemic, coughing in public has generated rejection. It's not just an annoyance: it can destroy a person's social and emotional life,” Pascual points out.

According to the expert, if a person suffers from a cough for more than eight weeks, or four weeks in the case of a child, they should see a general practitioner for basic testing: X-rays, blood tests, and allergy tests. If the cause of the condition cannot be found through these tests, they should see a pulmonologist with experience in chronic cough.

"After the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of chronic cough have increased, especially in patients who developed lung scarring. The virus is gone, but the damage persists, causing prolonged coughing," the specialist emphasizes.

In his opinion, although in many cases chronic cough is directly related to clear physical conditions, there are cases in which this disease is caused by other factors, so it is important to seek a pulmonologist or clinic that can analyze all the factors.

"It's important to find someone willing to go beyond the conventional route. If we rule out common causes and there's no organic disease, then the problem may be in the brain: a 'cough center hypersensitivity.' In those cases, we use specific medications, and the improvement is usually noticeable," the researcher adds.

Environment and Health Journalist