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The coughing child. A primary care perspective
Insights
Pediatric cough, common in infants, often suggests asthma in children with nighttime symptoms after a cold, especially with a family history. Early evaluation focuses on history to identify likely causes like asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Background:
- Cough is a common pediatric complaint, presenting diagnostic challenges in primary care.
- Differentiating causes of pediatric cough requires careful clinical evaluation, particularly in infants.
Observation:
- Recurrent nighttime cough following an upper respiratory infection in healthy children warrants consideration of asthma.
- A positive family history of asthma increases the likelihood of this diagnosis.
Findings:
- Asthma should be a primary consideration for nighttime cough in children, especially post-URI.
- History taking is crucial for evaluating cough in primary care settings.
Implications:
- Prompt consideration of asthma can lead to earlier diagnosis and management in children.
- This approach aids primary care physicians in effectively evaluating common pediatric respiratory symptoms.
Abstract:
Cough in children, even in infants under 1 year of age, is a frequent problem in clinical practice. Many causes are possible and should be considered, but only a few are likely. In primary care, appropriate evaluation is based on skillful history taking. In an ostensibly healthy child or infant with recurrent episodes of nighttime cough preceded by an upper respiratory infection, asthma should be strongly considered. This is especially important when there is a positive family history of asthma.