Cough RIB Fracture: An Uncommon Upper Respiratory Cause

Cough is a whole-sole dynamic housekeeper of the airways. Although a run-of-the-mill symptom, chronic cough frequently forces the patient to seek medical help. It can persist for years end on, and not only makes the patient anxious about underlying illness, but may cause vomiting, exhaustion, impaired sleep, urinary incontinence, and social embarrassment. The propulsive effort made by the patient to clear the noxious stimuli irritating the airways can at times disrupt the integrity of the chest wall and result in rib fractures. We present a case who was detected to have cough fracture during the evaluation of symptoms of chronic cough with pleuritic chest pain. He was evaluated for the aetiology of chronic cough and was diagnosed to have laryngopharyngeal reflux which even though a common aetiology for chronic cough is a very uncommon cause of cough rib fracture. The importance of small innocuous diseases causing severe debility, even in patients with no comorbid illness or contributing risk factors is emphasized by this case report.