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Study: average cough lasts longer than most adults think

By WEEK Producer

Study: average cough lasts longer than most adults think

January 15, 2013 Updated Jan 15, 2013 at 3:21 PM CDT

ATHENS, Ga. -- The average cough lasts 17 days, yet most adults think it should only last a week.

The new study out of the University of Georgia found patients think a cough should last nine days at the most, while many thought a cough should be gone within five days.

Researchers say this misinformation could lead to doctors over-prescribing antibiotics, even though the drugs don't work in a majority of cases.

This study was led by researchers at the University of Georgia and published in the Annals of Family Medicine.

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