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Allergic rhinitis is a common cause of chronic cough. Topical corticosteroids are regarded as the most effective first-time treatment in allergic rhinitis. In this study we evaluated the cough sensitivity during the early and late allergic responses in guinea pigs with experimental allergic rhinitis. Another aim of the study was to follow up the effect of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on the cough in guinea pigs with allergic rhinitis. 31 guinea pigs were sensitized with ovalbumin (OA). Animals were intranasally challenged with OA (experiment) or saline (control) in 7-day intervals for 9 weeks. Cough was induced by inhalation of citric acid aerosols in gradually increasing concentrations for 30 s and was evaluated 1 h after the 8(th) nasal challenge (NCH) and 17 h after the 9(th) NCH. Cough was significantly increased only during an early allergic response, 1 h after repeated NCH [18 (14-23) vs. 8 (3-10); P0.001]. Five experimental animals were inhaling aerosol of beclomethasone dipropionate seven days between the 8(th) and the 9(th) NCH and cough was evaluated 1 h after the 9(th) NCH. Inhaled corticosteroids significantly inhibited the enhanced allergic rhinitis related cough [4 (1-9) vs.19 (9-37) vs. 6 (3-9); P0.05].