Cough that won't go away

Acute cough (under 3 weeks) is usually viral — colds, flu, COVID, RSV. Subacute cough (3–8 weeks) often follows an infection. Chronic cough (over 8 weeks) is most commonly post-nasal drip, asthma, or acid reflux. Clindle reviews the timeline, listens for red flags, orders a chest X-ray or pulmonary referral when needed, and treats common drivers (inhaled albuterol or fluticasone for asthma, omeprazole for reflux-cough, fluticasone nasal spray for post-nasal drip). Cough with blood, weight loss, night sweats, or shortness of breath needs in-person evaluation.