Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2016 Jul;4(4):235-247. 10.4168/aard.2016.4.4.235.

Chronic cough in children

• Choi SH
• Song DJ
• Yum HY
• Park YM
• Rha YH

• KMID: 2346752
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2016.4.4.235

Abstract

Cough is one of the common symptoms, which is usually related to respiratory infections for children. This symptom is not considered crucial. Published data reported that the community prevalence of chronic cough in primary school children is 5%-10%, while the prevalence is likely to be higher in younger children. The cause of persistent cough should be investigated. There were significant differences in the causes and management for cough according to age. Chronic cough is defined as duration of 4 weeks or longer. Common culprits for chronic cough in children are different from those in adults. The authors reviewed articles about chronic cough of children to help improve the understanding and management for pediatric chronic cough.

Keyword

Child; Chronic cough; Etiology; Diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Child*
Cough*
Diagnosis
Humans
Prevalence
Respiratory Tract Infections

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The different patterns of cough according to duration and severity. Adapted from Marais BJ, et al. Arch Dis Child 2005;90:1162-5,with permission of the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.6

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  Fig. 2 Classification of types of cough in children. Adapted from Chang AB, et al. Chest 2006;129(1 Suppl):260S-283S, with permission of the Elsevier.2

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  Fig. 3 Pathophysiology of cough reflex. Reprinted from Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease. Pediatric allergy immunology pulmonology. 2nd ed. Seoul: Ryo Moon Gak.P.Co., 2013, with permission of Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.7

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  Fig. 4 Representative scheme of afferent and efferent pathways that regulate cough, and of the pathophysiology of the enhanced cough reflex. RAR, rapidly adapting receptor; SAR, slowly adapting fibres; NTS, nucleus tractus solitarius; CGRP, calcitonin gene-related peptide; LTD4, leukotriene D4; PGE2, prostaglandin E; NK1, neulokinin-1; TRPV, transient receptor potential vanilloid; TNF, tumour necrosis factor. Adapted from Chung KF, et al. Lancet 2008;371:1364-74, with permission of the Elsevier.10

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  Fig. 5 Approach to pediatric chronic cough. BDR, bronchodilator response; BHR, bronchial hyperresponsiveness; HRCT, high resolution computed tomography; PND, postnasal discharge; PNS, paranasal sinus; dz, diseases; Bx, biopsy; CT, computed tomography; TB, tuberculosis.

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  Fig. 6 The approach to a child with nonspecific chronic cough. Modified from Chang AB, Paediatr Child Health 2008;18:333-9, with permission of the Elsevier.64

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