"Hello, I’m [Your Name], one of the doctors/nurses. I understand you've come in today because you've been experiencing a cough. Is that right?"
"Before we go any further, what are your thoughts about what might be causing this cough, or what it might mean?"
"And is there anything in particular that you're worried about, or anything you were hoping we could achieve during our conversation today?"
"Could you describe your cough for me? Does it feel like it's coming from your throat, or more from your chest?"
"When did this cough first start, and did it come on suddenly or gradually? Was there anything specific that triggered it?"
"How would you describe the cough? Is it dry, or do you bring anything up? If you bring anything up, what color is it, how much is there, and what consistency is it?"
"Have you ever coughed up any blood?"
"Do you ever have sudden, severe bursts of coughing that are hard to control?"
"If you have a known lung condition like asthma or COPD, how does this cough compare to your usual cough or a typical flare-up?"
"Have you noticed any other symptoms happening with the cough? Like shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, chills, or night sweats? What about a sore throat, runny nose, or heartburn?"
"How has the cough changed over time, or does it vary throughout the day? Is it worse in the morning, evening, or at night?"
"Have you had repeated episodes of this cough?"
"What makes the cough better or worse? For example, does it improve with rest, or get worse with cold air or certain activities? Do any medications help?"
"I also need to ask about some important 'red flag' symptoms. Have you had any unexplained weight loss? Any persistent hoarseness? Any chest pain that gets worse with deep breaths? Or any swelling in one of your legs?"
"Do you have any existing medical conditions, such as asthma, COPD, acid reflux (GORD), heart failure, or a history of allergies or recurrent chest infections?"
"Have you ever had any operations or procedures, especially any lung surgery?"
"Are you currently taking any medications, including anything prescribed by a doctor, or any over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or herbal remedies? It's particularly important to know if you're taking any ACE inhibitors, as these can sometimes cause a cough."
"Do you have any allergies to medications, or to things like pollen, dust, or animal dander?"
"Does anyone in your close family – like your parents or siblings – have a history of lung conditions like asthma or cystic fibrosis, heart problems, autoimmune diseases, or cancers?"
"Could you tell me a little about your living situation and who you live with? Do you have a good support network around you? Are you able to manage all your daily activities? What kind of work do you do, and have you been exposed to any dust, chemicals, or irritants at work?"
"Do you smoke, and if so, how much and for how long? Have you been exposed to passive smoke?"
"How much alcohol do you drink in a week? Do you use any recreational drugs?"
"Have you recently travelled anywhere, or been exposed to anyone with an infectious disease like tuberculosis?"
"Do you have any pets, especially birds?"
"Thank you very much for sharing all of that information with me. Just to summarise, you've been experiencing a [describe cough type] cough, which started [onset] and is often [character/timing]. You've also mentioned [recap relevant associated symptoms, PMH/DH/FH/SH]."
"Does that sound like an accurate summary? Is there anything else you feel is important that we haven't covered?"
"Based on what you've told me, the next steps would be for me to perform a physical examination of your chest, and then we would likely consider some investigations, such as a chest X-ray, a sputum sample, or lung function tests, to understand what's causing your cough."
"Do you have any questions for me at this stage?"
"Thank you for your time."