Cough history-taking station

A cough history tests whether you can separate a self-limiting infection from something needing urgent action. Duration and red flags drive your differential and your plan.

How to structure it

• Characterise the cough: duration, productive or dry, sputum, and any blood.
• Screen hard for red flags — haemoptysis, weight loss, persistent cough over three weeks.
• Cover smoking, occupational and infective exposures, and relevant past history.
• Assess impact and associated breathlessness or fever.

Common pitfalls

• Missing a red-flag presentation that needs an urgent (two-week-wait) referral.
• Forgetting smoking and occupational history.
• Reassuring before excluding serious causes.

Examiners reward recognising who needs urgent investigation, a structured history and clear safety-netting.