Chronic cough is a cough that persists for eight weeks or longer in adults and four weeks or longer in children. Unlike a temporary cough caused by a common cold or seasonal infection, chronic cough usually indicates an underlying medical condition that requires proper evaluation and treatment. It can interfere with daily activities, disrupt sleep, and significantly affect quality of life. According to a study conducted by Mahesh et al. (2011), three major factors for chronic cough in India are indoor air pollution, tobacco smoking, and occupational exposure.
Since such a cough can be an indicator of serious respiratory diseases such as COPD, bronchitis, asthma, or interstitial lung disease, it becomes important to seek timely diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Abhishek Bali (MBBS, MD in Respiratory Medicine) offers the best chronic cough treatment in Siliguri with an advanced diagnostic approach, comprehensive therapeutic options, and highly personalized care.
Years of Hospital affiliations Experience
Number of patient
Successful Recoveries
Academic Achievement: He performed the first-ever Medical Pleuroscopy in North Bengal and Sikkim, and he is currently the Head of the Pulmonology Department at Maxwell Hospital & Research Centre.
Here are the top reasons to choose him:
When you are dealing with a chronic cough, generic medications or syrups often fail to address the underlying disease that is causing it. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult a specialist who can identify the root cause of a persistent cough instead of masking the symptoms. Dr. Abhishek Bali is a leading pulmonologist and chronic cough specialist in Siliguri who combines advanced academic training in respiratory medicine with deep clinical experience in treating complex airway diseases.
He focuses on developing highly customized, evidence-based management protocols that combine targeted pharmacotherapy with practical lifestyle modifications.
He has been associated with pulmonology care since 2012 after completing his MBBS. His extensive qualification of MD in Respiratory Medicine and simultaneous practice make him a highly trusted chest specialist.
He leads the pulmonology department at Maxwell Hospital & Research Centre, which is a top multi-specialty hospital in Siliguri with advanced emergency care and world-class diagnostic facilities.
He uses cutting-edge diagnostic technology, including modern Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) and advanced interventional pulmonology tools like Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS).
He has completed his MD in Respiratory Medicine, which equips him with advanced diagnostic skills for chronic cough and its associated symptoms
Chronic cough can be caused by a mix of medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and environmental exposures. Knowing the common trigger factors for chronic cough can help identify the underlying medical conditions and find targeted relief.
Here are some of the most common factors that trigger a chronic cough:
Cough caused by asthma tends to flare up after exposure to cold or dry air.
The cough reflex can be triggered due to excess mucus caused by allergies, sinusitis, or rhinitis.
A chronic cough can be linked to COPD or chronic bronchitis due to airway inflammation and excess mucus production.
Both active and passive smoking cause chronic tissue irritation and lung damage, which promotes a chronic cough.
Regular, prolonged contact with industrial chemical vapors, agricultural dust, coal, textile fibers, or manufacturing irritants.
Inhalation of toxic fumes from biomass fuels, wood-burning stoves, unvented cookers, or poor indoor ventilation.
Medications commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart disease may cause a dry, persistent cough as a side effect in some individuals.
Exposure to allergens such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander, or mold can cause airway irritation and frequent coughing.
Acid from the stomach can flow back into the food pipe and throat, causing irritation that triggers a persistent cough, especially at night or after meals.
As a trusted persistent cough specialist in Siliguri, Dr. Abhishek Bali follows a systematic, step-by-step clinical approach. This is because a cough is a symptom and not a disease itself. The diagnostic process typically combines a detailed medical history with specific diagnostic tests. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the chronic cough's underlying cause diagnosis:
This is the first step where the specialist assesses the cough's duration, sound, timing, lifestyle habits like tobacco use, and current medications.
In this step, a thorough examination of the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, and chest is done to look for physical signs of inflammation, postnasal drip, or abnormal breathing sounds.
These are non-invasive breathing tests that measure the capacity of the lungs and diagnose underlying lung diseases, such as COPD or asthma.
This includes sputum tests, blood tests, or skin prick tests to identify specific environmental triggers, bacterial infections, or systemic inflammatory markers.
In this step, HRCT or Chest X-Rays are performed to detect structural changes, infections, fluid buildup, or interstitial lung disease (ILD)
This is a specialized interventional procedure where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is guided into the airways to view the lungs as well as collect tissues or fluid samples.
Divya Ghosh,Siliguri
Soma Sharma, Bagdogra
Bithika Roy, Siliguri
MBBS, MD (Respiratory Medicine)
Consultant- Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine