Chronic Cough is a disease, not just a symptom

The Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP) is proud to officially announce the 2025 World Chronic Cough Day (WCCD) campaign!

On October 15th each year, the world unites to raise awareness of chronic cough, its causes, and its profound impact on daily life. GAAPP launched this annual awareness-raising event to draw global attention to this often-misunderstood condition and the support that is urgently needed.

The central message of our campaign remains: Chronic Cough is a disease, not just a symptom.

What is Chronic Cough?

A chronic cough is defined as a cough that persists for more than 8 weeks. Unlike a typical, temporary cough, chronic cough is often related to the nerves in the throat and airways becoming extra sensitive. When it lasts for more than 8 weeks, has no clear cause, and continues to affect daily life, it is considered a disease on its own. Living with chronic cough can have a significant impact on quality of life, leading to feelings of sadness or depression, and causing patients to avoid social situations, becoming isolated. Learn more here.

The 2025 Focus: Earlier Recognition and Support

For 2025, our efforts will be guided by a theme focused on patient experiences and the importance of earlier recognition, diagnosis, and support. Our key aims for WCCD are:

  • Empower individuals living with chronic cough by providing them with reliable information and resources.
  • Educate the public and healthcare professionals about chronic cough and its impact.
  • Advocate for better diagnosis, treatment, research, and policies to support people with chronic cough.

Our key messages for the campaign are simple but powerful:

  • You Are Not Alone: Chronic cough affects millions of people worldwide, and WCCD brings these voices together to show that no one has to face this condition alone.
  • Support is Here: GAAPP offers reliable, easy-to-use tools like flyers, podcasts with expert insights, and a Patient Navigator to guide you through symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
  • Lift Your Voice: Every voice has the power to raise awareness and inspire action, helping to push for stronger support systems and more research.

Get Involved

Everyone has a role to play in World Chronic Cough Day. By working together, we can raise awareness and improve support for people living with chronic cough:

  • Download and Share: Explore the campaign toolkit and share our key messages on social media.
  • Become an Ambassador: Join our Ambassador Program to share your personal experiences and inspire action in your community.
  • Apply for a Grant: Organizations are invited to apply for a communication grant to boost outreach in their communities.

By uniting around these key messages, we can build understanding, reduce stigma, and improve the lives of people living with chronic cough worldwide. Join us in making the 2025 World Chronic Cough Day campaign the most impactful yet!

Get involved now

Communication grant for GAAPP Member Organizations

GAAPP has launched its communication grant for World Chronic Cough Day 2025.

A 200€ grant is offered to help you publish the campaign’s social media posts. The toolkit, which includes step-by-step instructions, is available in several languages. If you need these assets in another language, please contact , and we will be happy to arrange that for you.

To apply for the grant and obtain the social media assets, please click on the button below:

Apply for the Communication Grant

This campaign is possible thanks to the support of our main partners:

And with the additional support of:

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