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How much coughing is normal?
1Department of Paediatrics, Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital, London.
Insights
A new device accurately records coughs in children over 24 hours, revealing normal cough frequency. This objective data aids in diagnosing respiratory conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Cough is a common symptom in children, but objective, real-world data on normal cough frequency is limited.
- Existing methods for cough monitoring often lack ecological validity, being confined to laboratory settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel multiparametric device (RBC-7) for ambulatory cough recording in children.
- To establish normative data for cough frequency and patterns in healthy children outside a clinical environment.
Main Methods:
- The RBC-7 device, coupled with computer software, was used to record coughs in 41 healthy children over 24 hours.
- Children were recruited from a primary school, screened for respiratory health, and underwent spirometry before recording.
Main Results:
- The average cough frequency in healthy children was 11.3 episodes per 24 hours (range: 1-34).
- Passive smoking and pet ownership did not significantly affect cough frequency.
- Nocturnal or prolonged coughing was uncommon in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- The RBC-7 device is a well-accepted tool for objective, ambulatory cough monitoring in children.
- This study provides unique, real-world data defining normal cough parameters in pediatric populations.
- Objective cough data can enhance the diagnosis and management of pediatric respiratory diseases.
Abstract:
A new multiparametric device (RBC-7) was used for recording cough in ambulatory children over a 24 hour period. The number of coughs and the pattern of coughing can easily be studied with the aid of a personal computer and dedicated computer software. Forty one 'normal' children were recorded, identified from a primary school with the aid of a questionnaire. They were free from any respiratory infection for one month, and had a normal examination and spirometry immediately before recording. Cough frequency was 11.3, range 1 to 34, cough episodes per 24 hours. This was unaffected by passive smoking or the presence of furry pets in the home. Nocturnal and prolonged coughing was unusual in these children. The device was highly acceptable to the children, and no adverse effects were reported. Such objective data on cough outside the laboratory setting are unique, help to determine what is normal, and may help in the diagnosis and assessment of many respiratory diseases.