Irwin et al reported a number of red flags for a patient with cough. The authors are from the CHEST Expert Cough Panel.
Patient selection: cough
Red flags that may indicate a serious or life-threatening illness:
(1) hemoptysis
(2) smoker > 45 years of age with new cough, change in cough or voice disturbance
(3) adult >= 55 years with >=30 pack year history of smoking AND currently smokes
(4) adult >= 55 years with >=30 pack year history of smoking AND quit within the past 15 years
(5) prominent dyspnea, especially at night or at rest
(6) hoarseness
(7) systemic symptoms (fever, weight loss, edema with weight gain)
(8) trouble swallowing when eating or drinking
(9) vomiting
(10) recurrent pneumonia
(11) abnormal respiratory exam and/or abnormal chest X-ray coinciding with duration of the cough
