DMV Allergy & Asthma Center – Allergist Washington DC, Frederick & Alexandria

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Chronic Cough Treatment & Specialists in Alexandria, VA, Washington DC & Frederick, MD

Whether your cough is triggered by allergies, sinus problems, asthma, or reflux, our board-certified chronic cough specialists at Alexandria, VA, K Street, DC, Foxhall, DC, and Frederick, MD provide comprehensive chronic cough treatment to find the root cause, calm your symptoms, and restore your quality of life.
Board-Certified Chronic Cough Specialists
Personalized Chronic Cough Treatment Plans
Most Insurance Accepted
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4.9/5 from 2,000+ patient reviews

What is Chronic Cough?

A cough is considered chronic when it lasts 8 weeks or longer in adults, or 4 weeks or longer in children. Unlike a temporary cough from a cold or flu, a chronic cough does not clear on its own and often signals an underlying condition, such as allergies, asthma, sinus disease, or acid reflux, that requires a proper medical evaluation by a specialist. Chronic cough affects an estimated 10–20% of the U.S. population and is one of the most common reasons patients visit an allergist or immunologist. At DMV Allergy & Asthma Center, our chronic cough specialists use a targeted, evidence-based approach to identify exactly what is driving your cough, and design a treatment plan that treats the root cause, not just the symptom.

Common Symptoms of Chronic Cough

Not every patient with a chronic cough has the same pattern. Recognizing your specific symptoms helps our specialists pinpoint the underlying cause faster.
Common chronic cough symptoms include:
  • A dry, hacking cough or a cough that produces mucus or phlegm
  • Cough that worsens at night, in the early morning, or when lying down
  • A persistent tickling or scratchy sensation in the throat
  • Shortness of breath, chest tightness, or wheezing with coughing episodes
  • Hoarseness or voice changes from constant throat clearing
  • Postnasal drip, mucus running down the back of the throat
  • Fatigue and disrupted sleep from nighttime coughing episodes
If your cough has lasted more than a few weeks and is interfering with work, sleep, or daily life, it is time to see a cough specialist.

Common Chronic Cough Triggers

Identifying what is triggering your cough is the first step toward lasting relief. Common triggers include:
  • Airborne allergens: pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander, identified through allergy skin testing
  • Postnasal drip from allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis causing mucus to drain down the throat
  • Asthma and cough-variant asthma ; where cough, not wheezing, is the primary or only symptom
  • Acid reflux or GERD ; which irritates the throat and airway, producing a dry, persistent cough
  • Respiratory infections ; colds or flu that have resolved but left behind airway sensitivity
  • Environmental irritants ; smoke, chemical fumes, strong fragrances, and cold air
  • ACE inhibitor medications commonly prescribed for blood pressure, a known pharmaceutical cause of dry chronic cough
  • Workplace exposures to dust, chemicals, or biological agents

When Should You See a Chronic Cough Specialist?

A chronic cough is not something to push through with over-the-counter remedies. Schedule an evaluation with one of our chronic cough specialists if:

Your cough has lasted 8 weeks or longer (or 4 weeks in a child)

Over-the-counter cough medicines provide little or no relief

Your cough is waking you at night or disrupting restful sleep

You notice wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness alongside coughing

You have a history of asthma, allergies, sinusitis, or GERD, and your cough is getting worse

You have needed urgent care, the ER, or a high-dose medication for your cough

Seek immediate medical attention if your cough is accompanied by coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, severe shortness of breath, or chest pain.
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How We Treat Chronic Cough

At DMV Allergy & Asthma Center, we treat chronic cough as a condition with a specific root cause, not a symptom to suppress. Every patient receives a care plan built around what is actually driving their cough.

Comprehensive Evaluation

An in-depth review of your cough history, symptom patterns, timeline, and triggers, combined with diagnostic testing to identify the precise cause of your chronic cough.

Personalized Chronic Cough Treatment Plans

A targeted, step-by-step plan designed around your specific triggers, cough type, and lifestyle, built by our board-certified allergists and immunologists for lasting relief.

Long-Term Follow-Up Care

Regular monitoring at our Alexandria, VA, K Street, DC, Foxhall, DC, and Frederick, MD offices to track your response, adjust the plan, and keep the cough from returning.

All Ages Welcome

From children with a cough lasting weeks to adults with a persistent cough for months, our allergists and immunologists provide age-appropriate evaluation and care at every stage of life.

Chronic Cough Testing & Diagnosis

Diagnosing a chronic cough accurately means understanding both how your airways are functioning and what is triggering the irritation. Our board-certified chronic cough specialists use a targeted combination of lung function testing and allergy diagnostics to get the full picture.

Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT / Spirometry)

Measures how much air you can inhale and exhale, and how fast, essential for detecting cough-variant asthma or airflow obstruction contributing to your chronic cough. Performed in-office at all locations.

Skin Prick Testing

For allergy-driven chronic cough and postnasal drip, skin prick testing identifies the exact allergens inflaming your airways, with clear results in approximately 20 minutes.

Blood Testing & Allergen Panel

Measures allergen-specific IgE levels to detect immune-driven triggers behind your cough, ideal when skin testing isn't suitable or a broader immune profile is needed.

Request Chronic Cough Treatment

Skin Prick Testing

Quick, accurate results in about 20 minutes

Chronic Cough Treatment Options

We treat all four major types of asthma, allergic, exercise-induced, cough-variant, and occupational, with evidence-based therapies tailored to each patient.

Allergy Medications & Nasal Therapies

For allergy-driven cough and postnasal drip, we prescribe antihistamines, targeted nasal anti-inflammatory treatments, and saline rinses to reduce airway inflammation and stop the cough reflex at its source.

Allergy Immunotherapy

When environmental allergens are fueling your chronic cough, allergy shots gradually reduce your immune system's sensitivity — decreasing both allergy symptoms and cough episodes over time.

Inhaled & Controller Medications

For cough-variant asthma or airway hyperresponsiveness, we prescribe specialized inhaled controller and rescue medications to calm airway inflammation and reduce the chronic cough trigger threshold.

Asthma Action Plans & Education

For patients with asthma-driven chronic cough, every care plan includes a written asthma action plan, inhaler technique guidance, and trigger avoidance strategies — so you know exactly what to do day-to-day and during a flare-up.

Why Choose DMV Allergy & Asthma Center?

For over 20 years, DMV Allergy & Asthma Center has helped thousands of patients across Virginia, DC, and Maryland find lasting relief from chronic cough.

4 convenient locations — Alexandria, VA, K Street, DC, Foxhall, DC, Frederick, MD

Board-certified allergists and immunologists with 20+ years of clinical experience

All major chronic cough types treated ; allergic, asthma-related, sinus-driven, and postnasal drip

Most insurance plans accepted

Trusted by 15,000+ patients across the DMV region

Patient Satisfaction

98%
of patients recommend us

Patient Stories

Real Results from Real Patients

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear from patients who found lasting relief from their allergy symptoms.

Bharati Umarji
Bharati Umarji
May 29, 2026
★★★★★

Excellents soins et grande attention portée aux patients. Médecins et personnel exceptionnels et attentionnés.

DMV Allergy and Asthma Center - Foxhall
Laura Bennett
Laura Bennett
May 22, 2026
★★★★★

J'ai amené mon fils pour un test d'allergie aux noix. J'ai rapidement obtenu un rendez-vous, on a appelé mon fils dans la salle d'examen à l'heure prévue, et la consultation s'est déroulée très vite. L'assistante a été adorable avec mon fils, qui était anxieux à l'idée du test cutané. Le Dr Nataraj était également très attentif et semblait sincèrement intéressé par son patient. Je suis très satisfaite de ce cabinet et je le recommande vivement.

DMV Allergy and Asthma Center - Alexandria
doris johnson
doris johnson
May 19, 2026
★★★★★

Tout le personnel a été d'une grande aide pour mes soins et je remercie le Dr Fishman de m'avoir accompagnée et d'avoir veillé à ce que je reçoive mes injections contre les allergies à temps. Merci à vous tous.

DMV Allergy and Asthma Center - Washington
Nancy H. Starr
Nancy H. Starr
May 7, 2026
★★★★★

Exceptionnel à tous points de vue, personnel très accueillant et compétent ! Je recommande vivement. Un grand merci à Star et Erika, d'une aide précieuse !

DMV Allergy and Asthma Center - Washington
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Take Control of Your Chronic Cough

Chronic cough doesn’t have to be your new normal. Our allergists and immunologists at Alexandria, VA, K Street, DC, Foxhall, DC, and Frederick, MD are ready to find the cause and build a plan that fits your life. Schedule your consultation today →
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(202) 833 - 3500

Same-day appointments available • Most insurance accepted

Frequently Asked Questions About Asthma

We offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for allergic asthma

A cough that lasts 8 weeks or longer in adults (or 4 weeks or longer in children) is classified as chronic. Unlike a temporary cough from a cold or flu, a chronic cough typically signals an underlying condition such as allergies, asthma, postnasal drip, or acid reflux that needs professional evaluation.
The most common causes our allergists and immunologists treat are allergic rhinitis with postnasal drip, cough-variant asthma, chronic sinusitis, and environmental allergen exposure. Acid reflux (GERD) and certain blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors) are also frequent culprits.
We begin with a thorough review of your cough history, triggers, and associated symptoms. We then use in-office pulmonary function testing (spirometry) to assess airway function and allergy skin testing or blood testing to identify allergen-driven triggers — giving us a full picture to build your treatment plan.
Treatment depends on the root cause. For allergy-related cough, we prescribe antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and may recommend allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots). For asthma-driven cough, we use inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Every patient receives a personalized plan designed by our board-certified allergists and immunologists.
Yes — allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are among the top causes of chronic cough. When allergens inflame the nasal passages and sinuses, mucus drips down the back of the throat (postnasal drip), triggering a persistent cough reflex. Allergy testing can quickly identify whether allergies are driving your cough.
Yes. Our allergists and immunologists treat chronic cough in patients of all ages, including children. In children, a cough lasting 4 weeks or longer warrants evaluation, especially if it is accompanied by wheezing, nighttime symptoms, or a history of allergies or asthma.