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

There's usually no need to see a GP.

You should:

• rest
• drink plenty of fluids

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.

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)
• 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.

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

• 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

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu.

Other causes include:

• smoking
• heartburn (acid reflux)
• allergies – for example, hay fever
• infections like bronchitis
• mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose

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

• Find advice about lung health from the British Lung Foundation
• Choose well for advice if you are unwell
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Respiratory tract infections (RTIs)

Resources for people with babies and young children 

• HANDi Paediatric app gives up-to-date advice about common childhood illnesses and how to treat them