Useful Management Information
- There are many causes of persistent cough. These can be categorised into:
- Respiratory
- ENT (PN drip)
- Gastrointestinal
- Drug related (ACEI, aspirin, beta blockers)
- Cardiac (heart failure)
Treatment trial:
Ensure occult sino-nasal disease, unresolved infectious bronchitis and acid reflux have been considered and treated appropriately. ACE inhibitors should be ceased, and an alternate medication substituted (e.g. angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists).
- Four-week trial of PPI
- If unsuccessful, or symptoms of PN drip, commence a six-week trial of intra nasal steroid
- If unsuccessful, or evidence of asthma, commence a four-week trial of inhaled steroids
- If unsuccessful, complete CT chest scan (including high resolution images) and refer to specialist.
Clinician resources
Minimum Referral Criteria
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
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Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
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Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
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Essential Referral Information
- Symptoms
- Duration and severity
- Associated syncope, incontinence, SOB
- Relevant examination findings (if applicable)
- History of ENT problems or GORD
- Check uniform lung expansion and any percussive changes
- Medications including results of treatment trial as per defined in Other useful information
- FBC
- ELFT
- ESR
- HRCT if the cough has been present for >8 weeks
- Chest X-Ray
If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.
Additional Referral Information
- Symptoms including:
- any diurnal variation in severity (e.g. nocturnal or positional)
- triggers e.g. air temp, food, talking, exercise
- swallowing difficulties
- voice change
- High resolution chest CT (if already performed)
- Spirometry pre and post bronchodilator
- Smoking and occupational history if relevant
- Previous gastroscopy findings
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Preferred Method
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Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District
Internal Referrals
Respiratory (E-Blueslips)
Sleep Clinic Adult (E-Blueslips)
Fax
Post
Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
Service Availability
Facilities
If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.