Common Symptoms Table 2–1.

Table 2–1. Empiric treatments or tests for persistent cough.

Suspected                                        Step 1                                            Step 2                           
Condition                                  (Empiric Therapy)                    Diagnostic Testing               
Postnasal                              Therapy for allergy or                 ENT referral; sinus CT scan       
   drip                                        chronic sinusitis                                                                          
Asthma                                           β2-Agonist                               Spirometry; consider           
                                                                                                methacholine challenge if normal
GERD                                   Proton pump inhibitors                   Esophageal pH monitoring