Cough-variant asthma (CVA) is a type of asthma that causes a dry, productive cough. This type of asthma may not be recognized as asthma since it does not cause the typical asthma symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath. Cough variant asthma is common among children.

Cough-variant asthma is sometimes called a chronic cough since it is a cough that does not go away like coughs from cold will. Not all cases of chronic cough are due to asthma. Sinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease can also cause chronic cough.

A cough that lasts longer than eight weeks is suspicious. Coughs caused by viral infections such as the cold or respiratory infections rarely last more than six weeks. Once a cough lasts longer than usual, it may have a more permanent cause. However, many times, a person with cough-variant asthma will go undiagnosed when the cough is blamed on colds or allergies. Cough variant asthma is caused by swelling and inflammation of the airways. Someone with cough variant asthma may not have airway constriction as people with other types of asthma experience.

The cough from cough-variant asthma can be worse at night. This can be categorized as nighttime or nocturnal asthma. Some people with cough-variant asthma experience a cough when they are outside in cold weather. Some medications, like beta-blockers or aspirin, can trigger cough variant asthma. Coughing during or after exercise may be considered exercise-induced asthma. Allergic asthma may cause coughing when the individual is in the presence of allergens.

For someone with cough-variant asthma, an asthma attack may look like a coughing fit. When diagnosing cough-variant asthma, the doctor may order a blood test to rule out any existing infections that could be causing the respiratory symptoms. The doctor may also order a chest x-ray to rule out other causes. People with cough variant asthma have normal chest x-rays.

The doctor may order asthma tests, such as a methacholine lung function test. The standard lung function test, also called a pulmonary function test, often fails to detect asthma in patients with cough-variant asthma. When diagnosing cough variant asthma, the doctor may notice that symptoms improve with the use of asthma medication. This is a sign that the cough is indeed caused by asthma.

The doctor may prescribe an asthma inhaler that contains bronchodilator medication. The treatment for cough variant asthma may include inhaled corticosteroids. Sometimes, cough variant asthma will turn into another kind of asthma.