Classification by:
-
Productive cough (cough accompanied by expectoration of mucus).
- Non-productive cough (also irritable cough; dry cough without expectoration of mucus)
- Hemoptysis (expectoration of blood).
A further classification distinguishes according to the duration of the cough:
- acute cough (different definitions: <8 weeks)
- chronic cough (>8 weeks)
Acute cough (< 8 weeks duration) can be triggered by inflammation of the respiratory tract (sinusitis, laryngotracheitis, tracheobronchitis). It may occur in the course of bronchial asthma, with aspiration of foreign material, by inhalation of irritants. Deeper lung diseases can also cause acute cough, such as pneumonias, diseases of the pleura, pulmonary embolism. Acute heart disease is also a possible cause of acute cough.
Chronic cough (> 8 weeks) is usually caused by smoking or continuous inhalation of other pollutants, COPD, malignancies of the lung, bronchial asthma, VCD, infections, or chronic heart disease.