See Your Doctor When...

If you have any of the following conditions along with your cough,

see your doctor without delay because you may have an infection, or the cough may indicate the presence of a more serious health condition.

Your cough doesn't get better after a few days. Coughing can lead to fractured ribs or a heart attack.

You cough up blood or bloody mucus.

Your mucus is yellow, brown or green and does not improve in a few days. This will indicate that you have an infection.

If you cough for more than three days for no apparent reason.

Or, if you have:

Shortness of breath when you cough.

Sharp pains in your chest when you cough.

A fever along with a persistent cough. This could be indicative of a serious respiratory illness. If you have a high fever and difficulty breathing you may have pneumonia.

Chest pain

Persistent chills

Excessive night sweats

Laryngitis and a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks.

A skin rash, earache, pain in the teeth or sinuses, or a headache.