A cough is your body's way of responding when something irritates your throat or airways. An irritant stimulates nerves that send a message to your brain. The brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of your lungs to force out the irritant. An occasional cough is normal and healthy.

See a doctor immediately

• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath.

• Shallow, rapid breathing.

• Wheezing

• Chest pain & Fever

Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.

Sometimes, a cough can be a sign of a more serious or underlying condition. It is a good idea to see a health care provider if someone: has a persistent cough that lasts longer than 8 weeks after the initial illness. has a persistent cough that keeps coming back.