Cough variant asthma, or CVA for short, is a less common form of asthma that is characterized by the fact that its only symptom is a chronic cough. People who have CVA do not generally have the other common symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. CVA is an especially common diagnosis in young children, and it often progresses into full-blown asthma down the line.

The cough in cough variant asthma is a dry cough that lasts for more than 6 to 8 weeks. It...