Take care, 'tis the season to be coughing

It's pervasive at this time of year.

It cuts through the din of rustling papers and chattering colleagues in - khuh - offices, provides a steady counterpoint to tooting cars on the - khuh - streets and clattering sho - khuh - pping carts in supermarkets.

It swells to a clang - khuh - orous cacophony in concert - khuh, khuh - halls and movie theaters, and - khuh - drowns out the teacher - khuh, khuh - who tells - khuh - you what is certain to be on the che - khuh, khuh, khuh - mistry exam.