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[Prolonged cough in children in the primary care office]

S Leconte1, J Degryse

  • 1Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Centre Académique de médecine générale, U.C.L. sophie.leconte@uclouvain.be

Revue Medicale De Bruxelles
|April 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged cough is a common issue in children, with 10.7% consulting general practitioners. Asthma and respiratory infections were frequent diagnoses, with inhaled medications being the primary treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • General Practice
  • Respiratory Medicine

Context:

  • Prolonged cough (lasting >3 weeks) is prevalent in the general population.
  • Its frequency and management within general practice settings are less understood.
  • Understanding physician consultations for this symptom is crucial for primary care.

Purpose:

  • To determine the frequency of prolonged cough consultations in general practice.
  • To identify common diagnoses and treatments prescribed by general practitioners for prolonged cough in children.
  • To assess adherence to clinical guidelines in diagnosing and managing prolonged cough.

Summary:

  • A prospective study included 34 children (5-17 years) consulting general practitioners.
  • 10.7% reported prolonged cough in the preceding six months.
  • Top diagnoses included asthma, lower respiratory tract infection, ENT causes, and gastro-oesophageal reflux.
  • Inhaled medications were the most frequent treatment, followed by antitussives and antibiotics.

Impact:

  • Highlights prolonged cough as a significant primary care concern for children.
  • Informs general practitioners about prevalent etiologies and treatment patterns.
  • Suggests potential areas for guideline reinforcement, particularly regarding environmental factors.

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