Related Experiment Videos
[Unrecognized causes of chronic cough]
1Clinique pneumologique, CHU C. Nicolle, Rouen, France.
Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires
|June 1, 2002
Summary
Chronic cough, lasting over a month, often has identifiable causes like post-nasal drip or asthma. Less common systemic diseases or local airway issues should be considered when initial diagnostics are inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Internal Medicine
- Diagnostic Medicine
Context:
- Chronic cough is a prevalent clinical complaint necessitating thorough evaluation.
- A systematic diagnostic pathway is crucial for identifying common causes.
- Persistent cough may indicate underlying systemic or rare local pathologies.
Purpose:
- To outline a systematic approach for diagnosing chronic cough.
- To highlight common and less common etiologies of persistent cough.
- To guide clinicians in investigating refractory cough cases.
Summary:
- Chronic cough, defined as >1 month duration, is frequently diagnosed through history, physical exam, and investigations like chest X-rays and lung function tests.
- Common causes include post-nasal drip, gastro-oesophageal reflux, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and ACE inhibitor use.
- When common causes are excluded, consider systemic diseases (e.g., Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis) or local tracheo-bronchial pathologies (e.g., eosinophilic bronchitis, occult carcinoma).
Impact:
- Facilitates accurate diagnosis and management of chronic cough.
- Reduces diagnostic delays for patients with complex or refractory cough.
- Improves patient outcomes by addressing the root cause of persistent cough.