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Nature Reviews. Disease Primers Jun 2022Chronic cough is globally prevalent across all age groups. This disorder is challenging to treat because many pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions can present with... (Review)
Review
Chronic cough is globally prevalent across all age groups. This disorder is challenging to treat because many pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions can present with chronic cough, and cough can also be present without any identifiable underlying cause or be refractory to therapies that improve associated conditions. Most patients with chronic cough have cough hypersensitivity, which is characterized by increased neural responsivity to a range of stimuli that affect the airways and lungs, and other tissues innervated by common nerve supplies. Cough hypersensitivity presents as excessive coughing often in response to relatively innocuous stimuli, causing significant psychophysical morbidity and affecting patients' quality of life. Understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to cough hypersensitivity and excessive coughing in different patient populations and across the lifespan is advancing and has contributed to the development of new therapies for chronic cough in adults. Owing to differences in the pathology, the organs involved and individual patient factors, treatment of chronic cough is progressing towards a personalized approach, and, in the future, novel ways to endotype patients with cough may prove valuable in management.
Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Cough; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Lung; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35773287
DOI: 10.1038/s41572-022-00370-w -
The European Respiratory Journal Jan 2020These guidelines incorporate the recent advances in chronic cough pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. The concept of cough hypersensitivity has allowed an umbrella...
These guidelines incorporate the recent advances in chronic cough pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. The concept of cough hypersensitivity has allowed an umbrella term that explains the exquisite sensitivity of patients to external stimuli such a cold air, perfumes, smoke and bleach. Thus, adults with chronic cough now have a firm physical explanation for their symptoms based on vagal afferent hypersensitivity. Different treatable traits exist with cough variant asthma (CVA)/eosinophilic bronchitis responding to anti-inflammatory treatment and non-acid reflux being treated with promotility agents rather the anti-acid drugs. An alternative antitussive strategy is to reduce hypersensitivity by neuromodulation. Low-dose morphine is highly effective in a subset of patients with cough resistant to other treatments. Gabapentin and pregabalin are also advocated, but in clinical experience they are limited by adverse events. Perhaps the most promising future developments in pharmacotherapy are drugs which tackle neuronal hypersensitivity by blocking excitability of afferent nerves by inhibiting targets such as the ATP receptor (P2X3). Finally, cough suppression therapy when performed by competent practitioners can be highly effective. Children are not small adults and a pursuit of an underlying cause for cough is advocated. Thus, in toddlers, inhalation of a foreign body is common. Persistent bacterial bronchitis is a common and previously unrecognised cause of wet cough in children. Antibiotics (drug, dose and duration need to be determined) can be curative. A paediatric-specific algorithm should be used.
Topics: Adult; Antitussive Agents; Asthma; Bronchitis; Child; Chronic Disease; Cough; Humans
PubMed: 31515408
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01136-2019 -
Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and... Mar 2020Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)-associated acute cough is the most common symptom both in children and adults worldwide and causes economic and social problems... (Review)
Review
Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)-associated acute cough is the most common symptom both in children and adults worldwide and causes economic and social problems with significant implications for the patient, the patient's family, and the health care system. New pathogenic mechanisms in acute cough, including the urge to cough (UTC) mechanisms, have been recently identified. The brainstem neural network, pharyngeal sensory innervation, airway mechanical stimulation, inflammatory mediators, and postnasal drip actively participate in the onset and maintenance of acute cough and the urge to cough phenomenon. However, there is still no effective pharmacological treatment capable of interfering with the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in URTI-associated acute cough. Moreover, severe adverse events frequently occur in administering such cough medications, mainly in children. New evidence has been provided concerning polysaccharides, resins, and honey as potential cough relievers with high antitussive efficiency, effect on the UTC, and minimal side effects.
Topics: Acute Disease; Antitussive Agents; Apitherapy; Cough; Drug Costs; Honey; Humans; Polysaccharides; Respiratory Tract Infections
PubMed: 33406022
DOI: 10.1089/ped.2019.1135 -
Medical Archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and... Feb 2017Cough is one of the most common symptoms that doctor faces in working with pediatric population, and according to some characteristics of cough, doctors can often... (Review)
Review
Cough is one of the most common symptoms that doctor faces in working with pediatric population, and according to some characteristics of cough, doctors can often conclude localization, and sometimes even the nature of the disease that causes it. Cough is not only the physiological defense reaction, but a symptom of a disease. According to duration it can be acute, chronic and recidivist, recurrent and persistent, strong or discreet, caused by changes in body position and changes in outside temperature. Pathoanatomically it is divided into lobar, lobular, alveolar and interstitial, pathogenetically to bronchogenic and hematogenous, as well as in immuno competent and immunocompromised, and clinically on the local and inpatient (72 hours after hospital admission). Considering the contents, cough can be productive-with secretion from the respiratory tract, and unproductive-dry, without secretion. By auscultation bronchial breathing, rattle and crepitus can be heard. The primary diagnostics is radiological, posterior to anterior (P-A) and lateral footage of the chest. Laboratory findings in typical pneumonia, are characterized by leukocytosis, neutrophilia and shift of blood image to the left. Sedimentation is accelerated and C-reactive protein is elevated. The basic bacteriological diagnosis is sputum Gram's stain and culture of sputum. In atypical pneumonia, leukocytes are usually in the normal range, and it is necessary to do serological tests (IgM and IgG antibodies). The role of doctors in primary health care is auscultation differentiation of murmurs with confirmation of doubt if there is pathological findings by laboratory tests and treatment, depending on the type of cough. Treatment is essentially pharmacological, with irrefutable importance of non-pharmacological measures.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Chronic Disease; Cough; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Predictive Value of Tests; Primary Health Care; Respiratory Function Tests; Sputum
PubMed: 28428678
DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2017.71.66-68 -
Respiratory Medicine Sep 2015A chronic 'productive' or 'wet' cough is a common presenting complaint for patients attending the adult respiratory clinic. Most reviews and guidelines suggest that the... (Review)
Review
A chronic 'productive' or 'wet' cough is a common presenting complaint for patients attending the adult respiratory clinic. Most reviews and guidelines suggest that the causes of a productive cough are the same as those of a non-productive cough and as such the same diagnostic pathway should be followed. We suggest a different diagnostic approach for patients with a productive cough, focussing on the conditions that are the most likely causes of this problem. This review is intended to briefly summarise the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology and treatment of a number of conditions which are often associated with chronic productive cough to aid decision making when encountering a patient with this often distressing symptom. The conditions discussed include bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis and immunodeficiency. We also propose an adult version of the paediatric diagnosis of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in patients with idiopathic chronic productive cough who appear to respond well to low dose macrolide therapy.
Topics: Algorithms; Asthma; Bronchiectasis; Bronchitis, Chronic; Chronic Disease; Cough; Disease Management; Humans; Respiratory Tract Infections; Sputum
PubMed: 26184784
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.05.020 -
Respiratory Medicine 2022Persistent cough with sputum production is an important clinical trait in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We defined "frequent productive cough" based on 2...
INTRODUCTION
Persistent cough with sputum production is an important clinical trait in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We defined "frequent productive cough" based on 2 questions from the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and sought to determine its occurrence and associated outcomes in patients with physician-assigned asthma and/or COPD from the NOVELTY study.
METHODS
Frequent productive cough was defined as cough and sputum production most or several days/week for the past 3 months (scoring ≥3 for both SGRQ questions). Relationships with baseline disease characteristics and exacerbations over 12 months' follow-up were examined using logistic regression.
RESULTS
Baseline SGRQ data were available for 7125 patients, of whom 31.3% had frequent productive cough. It was more common in asthma+COPD (38.8%) and COPD (38.1%) than asthma (25.0%), increasing with physician-assessed severity, and in current versus former and never smokers. Patient-reported symptomatic worsening was more common in patients with versus without frequent productive cough. Reduced post-bronchodilator FEV (odds ratio [OR] per 10% decrement 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.11-1.16]) and history of pollutant exposure at home/work (OR 1.50 [1.33-1.69]) were associated with frequent productive cough in all diagnoses. Patients with baseline frequent productive cough were more likely to have ≥1 exacerbation over the subsequent 12 months (OR 1.71 [1.52-1.93]), including exacerbations requiring hospital admission and those treated with oral corticosteroids.
CONCLUSIONS
Frequent productive cough represents an important indicator of adverse clinical outcomes across asthma and/or COPD. Research into the underlying pathologic mechanisms is required to support targeted therapy development.
CLINICALTRIALS
GOV: NCT02760329.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Asthma; Cough; Disease Progression; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35820227
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.106921 -
Casopis Lekaru Ceskych 2022Cough is the most common symptom of respiratory diseases, but it is also one of important defense mechanisms of the human body. It is often difficult to determine when...
Cough is the most common symptom of respiratory diseases, but it is also one of important defense mechanisms of the human body. It is often difficult to determine when this defensive reflex ceases to fulfill its physiological role and becomes pathological. Cough is not diagnosis; it is the symptom of various diseases and their combination and is the most common symptom of diseases of the respiratory system. Often the definition of chronic cough is confused with the definition of chronic bronchitis, which is defined as a chronic productive cough lasting at least three months in two consecutive years, while other causes of cough are excluded. Chronic cough is associated with poor quality of life and can negatively affect quality of life. Diseases causing chronic cough are most commonly asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux, post-nasal drip syndrome, rhinosinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. Treatment of the underlying etiology of the cough leads to a success rate of up to 90 %. The cause of chronic cough may not be clear and therefore requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Topics: Humans; Cough; Quality of Life; Asthma; Chronic Disease; Gastroesophageal Reflux
PubMed: 36543577
DOI: No ID Found -
Chest Jul 2020Cough is one of the most common presenting symptoms to general practitioners. The objective of this article is to collate the pediatric components of the CHEST chronic...
BACKGROUND
Cough is one of the most common presenting symptoms to general practitioners. The objective of this article is to collate the pediatric components of the CHEST chronic cough guidelines that have recently updated the 2006 guidelines to assist general and specialist medical practitioners in the evaluation and management of children who present with chronic cough.
METHODS
We reviewed all current CHEST Expert Cough Panel's statements and extracted recommendations and suggestions relating to children aged ≤ 14 years with chronic cough (> 4 weeks duration). Additionally, we undertook systematic reviews to update other sections we considered relevant and important.
RESULTS
The eight recent CHEST guidelines relevant to children, based on systematic reviews, reported some high-quality evidence in the management of chronic cough in children (eg, use of algorithms and management of wet/productive cough using appropriate antibiotics). However, much evidence is still inadequate, particularly in the management of non-specific cough in the community.
CONCLUSIONS
The recommendations and suggestions related to the management of chronic cough in the pediatric age group have been based upon high-quality systematic reviews and are summarized in this article. Compared to the 2006 Cough Guidelines, there is now high-quality evidence for some aspects of the management of chronic cough in children. However, further studies particularly in primary health care are required.
Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Algorithms; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cough; Humans; Symptom Assessment
PubMed: 32179109
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.01.042 -
Chest Jan 2016Systematic reviews were conducted to examine two related key questions (KQs) in children with chronic (> 4 weeks' duration) wet or productive cough not related to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Systematic reviews were conducted to examine two related key questions (KQs) in children with chronic (> 4 weeks' duration) wet or productive cough not related to bronchiectasis: KQ1-How effective are antibiotics in improving the resolution of cough? If so, what antibiotic should be used and for how long? KQ2-When should they be referred for further investigations?
METHODS
The systematic reviews were undertaken based on the protocol established by selected members of the CHEST expert cough panel. Two authors screened searches and selected and extracted data. The study included systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort (prospective and retrospective) studies, and cross-sectional studies published in English.
RESULTS
Data were presented in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowcharts, and the summaries were tabulated. Fifteen studies were included in KQ1 (three systematic reviews, three RCTs, five prospective studies, and four retrospective studies) and 17 in KQ2 (one RCT, 11 prospective studies, and five retrospective studies). Combining data from the RCTs (KQ1), the number needed to treat for benefit was 3 (95% CI, 2.0-4.3) in achieving cough resolution. In general, findings from prospective and retrospective studies were consistent, but there were minor variations.
CONCLUSIONS
There is high-quality evidence that in children aged ≤ 14 years with chronic (> 4 weeks' duration) wet or productive cough, the use of appropriate antibiotics improves cough resolution. There is also high-quality evidence that when specific cough pointers (eg, digital clubbing) are present in children with wet cough, further investigations (eg, flexible bronchoscopy, chest CT scans, immunity tests) should be conducted. When the wet cough does not improve by 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, there is moderate-quality evidence that children should be referred to a major center for further investigations to determine whether an underlying lung or other disease is present.
Topics: Age Factors; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cough; Humans; Sputum
PubMed: 26757284
DOI: 10.1378/chest.15-2065 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Sep 2014Croup is characterised by the abrupt onset, most commonly at night, of a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, and respiratory distress due to upper airway... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Croup is characterised by the abrupt onset, most commonly at night, of a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, and respiratory distress due to upper airway obstruction. It leads to signs of upper airway obstruction, and must be differentiated from acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, or an inhaled foreign body. Croup affects about 3% of children per year, usually between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, and 75% of infections are caused by parainfluenza virus. Symptoms usually resolve within 48 hours, but severe upper airway obstruction can, rarely, lead to respiratory failure and arrest.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments in children with mild croup and moderate to severe croup? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to November 2013 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 19 studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: corticosteroids (dexamethasone, intramuscular and oral), nebulised budesonide, oral prednisolone, heliox, humidification, and nebulised adrenaline (racemate and L-adrenaline [ephinephrine]).
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Budesonide; Cough; Croup; Epinephrine; Helium; Humans; Humidity; Oxygen; Prednisolone
PubMed: 25263284
DOI: No ID Found