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Cough . 2: Chronic cough in children

J C de Jongste1, M D Shields

  • 1Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.c.dejongste@erasmusmc.nl

Thorax
|October 31, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Chronic cough in children often stems from viral infections. Persistent or severe coughs, especially with poor growth, warrant excluding serious conditions like cystic fibrosis or congenital issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic cough is a frequent pediatric concern.
  • Viral infections are the primary cause in children.
  • Underlying conditions must be considered for severe or persistent coughs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the differential diagnosis of chronic cough in children.
  • To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis for specific pediatric respiratory conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common and rare causes of chronic cough in pediatric populations.
  • Emphasis on clinical indicators for further investigation.

Main Results:

  • Viral infections are the most common cause of chronic cough.
  • Passive smoking is a significant contributing factor.
  • Specific diagnoses like cystic fibrosis, foreign body aspiration, congenital abnormalities, and primary ciliary dyskinesia require exclusion.

Conclusions:

  • Early identification of underlying diseases is crucial, particularly in younger children.
  • Chronic productive cough with purulent sputum is a serious sign, not typical of asthma.
  • A thorough diagnostic approach is necessary for effective management of pediatric chronic cough.

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