Mnemonic for different causes of cough: BAD CAT TOM

This is a mnemonic for differential diagnosis of cough:

Bronchitis or pneumonia
Asthma
Drugs, e.g. ACEi

Cardiogenic, e.g. mitral stenosis
Aspiration, e.g in achalasia, foreign body
TB

Thyroid enlargement, e.g. goiter
Other, e.g. PE
Malignancy, e.g. lung cancer


Mind map of differential diagnosis of cough. See more Allergy and Immunology mind maps here.

References:
One hundred coughs. Can Fam Physician, Vol. 54, No. 2, February 2008, pp.236 - 237.
The Lancet Seminar: Prevalence, pathogenesis, and causes of chronic cough and Management of chronic cough. The Lancet 2008; 371:1375-1384.
Image source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, fair use.

Related:
CNN: Mystery cough? 8 possible culprits http://bit.ly/nHMQo
ACCP cough guidelines http://bit.ly/wLvuO

Updated: 06/22/2009