Table 1 Pointers to underlying aetiology i.e. presence of specific cough [39,110]

auscultatory findings

cough characteristics eg cough with choking, cough quality (table 2), cough starting from birth

cardiac abnormalities (including murmurs)

chest pain

chest wall deformity

chronic dyspnoea

daily moist or productive cough

digital clubbing

exertional dyspnoea

failure to thrive

feeding difficulties

haemoptysis

immune deficiency

neurodevelopmental abnormality

recurrent pneumonia