A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.

There's usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough.

You should:

- Rest

- Drink plenty of fluids

- Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

You could also try:

- Paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain

- Hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old)

- A herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over) But there's limited evidence to show these work. Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect to cough medicines

If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist about:

- Cough syrup

- Cough medicine (some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12 years old)

- Cough sweets; these will not stop your cough but may help you cough less.

Decongestants and cough medicines containing codeine will not stop your cough.

See a GP if:

- You've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)

- You're losing weight for no reason

- You have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

- Your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing

- You feel very unwell

- You have chest pain

- The side of your neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)

- You find it hard to breathe

- You're coughing up blood

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online 

What happens at your appointment?

To find out what's causing your cough, the GP might:

- Listen to your chest with a stethoscope

- Take a sample of any mucus you might be coughing up

- Order an X-ray, allergy test, or a test to see how well your lungs work

Refer you to hospital to see a specialist, but this is rare

Important

Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs. A GP will only prescribe them if you need them – for example, if you have a bacterial infection or you're at risk of complications.

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu.

Other causes include:

- Smoking

- Heartburn (acid reflux)

- Allergies – for example, hay fever

- Infections like bronchitis or COVID-19

- Mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose

A cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer.