Study highlights gaps in cough management, calls for scientific categorisation

new delhi: one of the most common reasons for outpatient visits in india, cough continues to be poorly categorised and often mismanaged, with widespread reliance on antibiotics and fixed-dose combinations, a study published in the journal of the association of physicians of india has shown.the study, conducted by consumer health company kenvue, analysed electronic medical records of over 22 lakh patients and found that 71.04 per cent of adults and 66.42 per cent of elderly patients had coughs recorded as “unspecified,” without classification into productive, nonproductive, or allergic types.this lack of categorisation often results in treatment based on habit rather than evidence. over half of all patients received antibiotics irrespective of cough type—azithromycin was most frequently prescribed, followed by cefpodoxime, and multi-ingredient cough syrups were widely used.dr agam vora, general secretary of the association of physicians of india (api), said the findings underline the urgent need for rational prescribing, better documentation, and symptom-specific management to improve clinical outcomes and curb antimicrobial resistance.dr harshad malve, medical head, self care and operations, kenvue, said the study prompted the launch of dedicated cough clinics across 10 cities in collaboration with api, starting at bses hospital, mumbai. these clinics provide validated categorisation tools, structured training, and guidance for evidence-based management.