I've had a tickly cough for a few months. It seems to be worse at certain times particularly in the evening. I also sometimes cough up small lumps of mucus. What could be causing this?

I am sorry to hear that you are troubled with a tickly cough.

With the limited information you have provided, I can only give you general information on the most likely causes:

  1.  There could be a degree of inflammation in your upper respiratory tract (in this case, nose and back of throat). This usually happens as a result of a previous viral infection and although this inflammation may not be obvious now, it may be that small amounts of mucus are still being produced giving rise to irritation and the cough.

  2.  You may have a mild allergy to airborne substances such as animal fur and house dust (or even hayfever) which can irritate the upper airways and account for the cough.

  3.  Lastly, some people with gastric problems can suffer from acid reflux – this is when the acidic contents of the stomach travel upwards to the back of the throat, causing irritation and a cough. These symptoms are more likely when you are lying down.

As you have had the problem for some time, you should really seek the advice of your doctor to try to work out the cause – and work out how best to treat the symptom.