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Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2016Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most common chronic lung diseases worldwide. Distinguishing between these different pulmonary... (Review)
Review
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most common chronic lung diseases worldwide. Distinguishing between these different pulmonary diseases can be difficult in practice because of symptomatic similarities. A definitive diagnosis is essential for correct treatment. This review article presents the different symptoms of these two chronic inflammatory lung diseases following a selective search of the PubMed database for relevant literature published between 1996 and 2012. While cough occurs in both diseases, asthmatics often have a dry cough mainly at night, which is often associated with allergies. In contrast, COPD is usually caused by years of smoking. Paroxysmal dyspnea, which occurs in asthma, is characterized by shortness of breath, while in COPD it occurs during physical exertion in early stages and at rest in later stages of the disease. Asthma often begins in childhood or adolescence, whereas COPD occurs mainly in smokers in later life. It is possible to live with asthma into old age, whereas the life expectancy of patients with COPD is significantly limited. Currently, there is no general curative treatment for either disorder.
Topics: Age of Onset; Asthma; Cough; Dyspnea; Eosinophilia; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Neutrophils; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Smoking; Spirometry
PubMed: 26820733
DOI: 10.1007/5584_2015_206 -
Complementary Medicine Research 2020Althaea officinalis has been traditionally used for management of cough and other respiratory problems. The aim of this review article was to evaluate its efficacy in... (Review)
Review
Althaea officinalis has been traditionally used for management of cough and other respiratory problems. The aim of this review article was to evaluate its efficacy in modern research according to its traditional beliefs. All information was extracted from scientific resources of PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Wiley, Springer, SID, accessible books, reports, and theses. The results of animal and clinical studies confirmed the efficacy of A. officinalis extracts alone in treatment of dry cough, while combination of A. officinalis with Zataria multiflora, Zingiber officinalis, or Helix hedera increased the efficacy of A. officinalis and improved all kinds of cough. Different mechanisms are involved in expectorant and antitussive effects of A. officinalis in treatment of cough. Therefore, A. officinalis in combination with other plant extracts in different forms of drug could be a good choice for cough, sore throat, and other respiratory ailments.
Topics: Althaea; Animals; Antitussive Agents; Cough; Humans; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 31770755
DOI: 10.1159/000503747 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Aug 2021The diagnosis of pulmonary tularaemia can be challenging. We present a case illustrating how pulmonary tularaemia may be an important radiological differential diagnosis...
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of pulmonary tularaemia can be challenging. We present a case illustrating how pulmonary tularaemia may be an important radiological differential diagnosis to lung cancer.
CASE PRESENTATION
A man in his fifties presented with several weeks of dry cough, weight loss and profuse night sweats. The physical examination was normal. A chest computer tomography showed evidence of lymphadenopathy and two consolidated lung masses. The lung masses and lymph nodes showed signs of necrosis. The radiological findings were described as suspicious of lung cancer. A detailed history revealed that he had chopped wood prior to symptom onset. He tested positive for Francisella tularensis IgM and IgG, confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary tularaemia.
INTERPRETATION
The radiological findings in pulmonary tularaemia may mimic lung cancer. Serology is an easy way to confirm the diagnosis, if faced with clinical or radiological suspicion of pulmonary tularaemia.
Topics: Antibodies, Bacterial; Cough; Diagnosis, Differential; Francisella tularensis; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Tularemia
PubMed: 34423953
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0245 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Jul 2020In December 2019, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan and rapidly spread throughout China.
BACKGROUND
In December 2019, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan and rapidly spread throughout China.
METHODS
Demographic and clinical data of all confirmed cases with COVID-19 on admission at Tongji Hospital from 10 January to 12 February 2020 were collected and analyzed. The data on laboratory examinations, including peripheral lymphocyte subsets, were analyzed and compared between patients with severe and nonsevere infection.
RESULTS
Of the 452 patients with COVID-19 recruited, 286 were diagnosed as having severe infection. The median age was 58 years and 235 were male. The most common symptoms were fever, shortness of breath, expectoration, fatigue, dry cough, and myalgia. Severe cases tend to have lower lymphocyte counts, higher leukocyte counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as well as lower percentages of monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Most severe cases demonstrated elevated levels of infection-related biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines. The number of T cells significantly decreased, and were more impaired in severe cases. Both helper T (Th) cells and suppressor T cells in patients with COVID-19 were below normal levels, with lower levels of Th cells in the severe group. The percentage of naive Th cells increased and memory Th cells decreased in severe cases. Patients with COVID-19 also have lower levels of regulatory T cells, which are more obviously decreased in severe cases.
CONCLUSIONS
The novel coronavirus might mainly act on lymphocytes, especially T lymphocytes. Surveillance of NLR and lymphocyte subsets is helpful in the early screening of critical illness, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; China; Coronavirus Infections; Cough; Critical Illness; Cytokines; Female; Fever; Hospitalization; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Neutrophils; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult
PubMed: 32161940
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa248 -
European Journal of Internal Medicine Aug 2020Cough, a defense mechanism for clearing the airways of secretions, exudate, or foreign bodies, may become a troublesome symptom. Chronic cough, one of the most frequent... (Review)
Review
Cough, a defense mechanism for clearing the airways of secretions, exudate, or foreign bodies, may become a troublesome symptom. Chronic cough, one of the most frequent symptoms requiring medical attention, is often not due to identifiable causes in adults. Chronic productive cough defines chronic bronchitis, and thus is present in 100% of these patients, and frequently in patients with bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic infectious respiratory diseases. However, chronic cough is most frequently dry. Thus, chronic cough in adults is a difficult syndrome requiring multidisciplinary approaches, particularly to diagnose and treat the most frequent identifiable causes, but also to decide which patients may benefit by treating the central cough hypersensitivity by neuromodulatory therapy and/or non-pharmacologic treatment (speech pathology therapy). Recent guidelines provide algorithms for diagnosis and assessment of cough severity; particularly chronic cough in adults. After excluding life-threatening diseases, chronic cough due to identifiable causes (triggers and/or diseases), particularly smoking and/or the most frequent diseases (asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eosinophilic bronchitis, and adverse reactions to drugs [angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and sitagliptin]) should be treated by avoiding triggers and/or according to guidelines for each underlying disease. In patients with troublesome chronic cough due to unknown causes or persisting even after adequate avoidance of triggers, and/or treatment of the underlying disease(s), a symptomatic approach with neuromodulators and/or speech pathology therapy should be considered. Additional novel promising neuromodulatory agents in clinical development (e.g., P2X3 inhibitors) will hopefully become available in the near future.
Topics: Adult; Asthma; Bronchiectasis; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Cough; Humans
PubMed: 32434660
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2020.03.018 -
Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Apr 2019In the general population, particularly in individuals with asthma, cough is a common symptom, often reported after exertion, although regular exercise may be associated... (Review)
Review
In the general population, particularly in individuals with asthma, cough is a common symptom, often reported after exertion, although regular exercise may be associated with a reduction in the prevalence of cough. In athletes, exercise-induced cough is also a particularly frequent symptom. The main etiologies of cough in athletes are somewhat similar to non-athletes, including asthma/airway hyperresponsiveness, upper airways disorders such as allergic or non-allergic rhinitis, and exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction, although these conditions are more frequently observed in athletes. In these last, this symptom can also be related to the high ventilation and heat exchange experienced during exercise, particularly during exposure to cold/dry air or pollutants. However, gastroesophageal reflux, a common cause of cough in the general population, despite being highly prevalent in athletes, has not been reported as a main cause of cough in athletes. Cough may impair quality of life, sleep and exercise performance in the general population and probably also in athletes, although there are few data on this. The causes of cough should be documented through a systematic evaluation, the treatment adapted according to identified or most probable cough etiology and pattern of presentation, while respecting sports anti-doping regulations. More research is needed on exercise-induced persistent cough in the athlete to determine its pathophysiology, optimal management and consequences.
Topics: Airway Obstruction; Asthma, Exercise-Induced; Athletes; Cough; Exercise; Humans; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Respiratory Hypersensitivity
PubMed: 30771475
DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2019.02.003 -
American Family Physician Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Cough
PubMed: 38215426
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of the American Osteopathic... Jan 2019Dry needling is a widely used alternative therapy for musculoskeletal disorders, such as myofascial pain. The procedure involves placing a solid monofilament needle into...
Dry needling is a widely used alternative therapy for musculoskeletal disorders, such as myofascial pain. The procedure involves placing a solid monofilament needle into myofascial trigger points or connective tissue to relieve pain. Some of the complications secondary to this procedure include cardiac tamponade, hematoma, infection, nerve injury, and pneumothorax. Although the incidence is low, the complications can be potentially life threatening. We present the case of a 44-year-old man who had dry needling of the infraspinatus, supraspinatus, rhomboid, and paraspinal muscles with subsequent development of a left apical pneumothorax. Given that the pneumothorax was small, the patient had good recovery with supplemental oxygen. Although the incidence of pneumothorax is very low, it is an important diagnosis to consider for a patient presenting with dry cough, malaise, chest pain, or shortness of breath after a dry needling procedure. Patients should be made aware of these potential complications as part of an informed consent.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Needles; Pneumothorax; Radiography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trigger Points
PubMed: 30615043
DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.009 -
Lung India : Official Organ of Indian... 2015Cough is the most common symptom for which medical treatment is sought in the outpatient setting. Chronic dry cough poses a great diagnostic and management challenge due... (Review)
Review
Cough is the most common symptom for which medical treatment is sought in the outpatient setting. Chronic dry cough poses a great diagnostic and management challenge due to myriad etiologies. Chronic cough has been commonly considered to be caused by gastroesophageal reflux, post-nasal drip or asthma. However, recent evidences suggest that many patients with these conditions do not have cough, and in those with cough, the response to specific treatments is unpredictable at best. This raises questions about the concept of a triad of treatable causes for chronic cough. This article discusses the mechanism and etiology of cough, along with recent advances in the field of cough, highlighting some of the diagnostic and management challenges.
PubMed: 25624596
DOI: 10.4103/0970-2113.148450 -
Paediatric Respiratory Reviews Apr 2019Cough is a forced expulsive manoeuvre, usually against a closed glottis and is associated with a characteristic sound that is easily recognised. It is a protective... (Review)
Review
Cough is a forced expulsive manoeuvre, usually against a closed glottis and is associated with a characteristic sound that is easily recognised. It is a protective reflex against aspiration and to clear airway secretions. In children cough is extremely common and when prolonged it is often a cause for concern for parents, resulting in a high proportion of attendances to primary and secondary care. There are many causes of cough which may be divided into productive or non-productive in character. As there are many guidelines for the management of productive or 'wet' cough the focus of this paper will be to discuss some of the main causes, investigations and management options for 'dry' cough. Dry coughing suggests airway irritation and or inflammation (without excessive extra secretion formation) and is predominantly the result of an acute viral respiratory infection that may last up to 3-4 weeks.
Topics: Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; Child; Cough; Disease Progression; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Respiratory Tract Infections; Rhinitis, Allergic; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Virus Diseases; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 30962153
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2018.08.002