Acute Medicine | Cough 02 knowledge A

Pathophysiology of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease Causing Cough
Session Overview
Description
This session focuses on the pathophysiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in causing cough.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain the cause of cough associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and describe how to investigate it

There are many causes of chronic cough (cough lasting greater than six weeks). It is a very common presentation to both primary and secondary care.

Prevalence studies have identified GORD as a cause of cough in up to 40% of cases of chronic cough.

It is notoriously difficult to diagnose as there is little about the timing or character that suggests it is due to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The patient may even only present with cough.