Cough, wheezing and asthma in children: lesson from the past

Recurrent cough is an important medical and sometimes frustrating problem encountered by pediatricians, especially if it is not associated with wheeze or other evidence of systemic disease. In the past, many children with chronic cough have been diagnosed as asthmatic. However, epidemiological, clin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric allergy and immunology 2004-10, Vol.15 (5), p.386-393
Main Authors: De Benedictis, Fernando Maria, Selvaggio, David, De Benedictis, Diletta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
asthma
Asthma - complications
Asthma - diagnosis
Asthma - epidemiology
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Clinical Trials as Topic
cough
Cough - epidemiology
Cough - etiology
Humans
Immunopathology
Medical sciences
Pneumology
Respiratory Sounds - etiology
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
wheezing
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Summary:Recurrent cough is an important medical and sometimes frustrating problem encountered by pediatricians, especially if it is not associated with wheeze or other evidence of systemic disease. In the past, many children with chronic cough have been diagnosed as asthmatic. However, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies conducted over the last ten years elucidated many aspects of the relationship between cough and bronchoconstriction. It is difficult to make a diagnosis of asthma on cough alone, but the setting in which the patient is seen (i.e., in a primary care setting or ain a specialistic clinic) may address doctors to the right diagnosis. A prudent ‘‘wait and see’’ approach may be useful in many occasions.
ISSN:0905-6157
1399-3038
DOI:10.1111/j.1399-3038.2004.00179.x