PMID: 15227859Jul 2, 2004Paper

A coughing child: could it be asthma?

Australian Family Physician
H John Fardy

Abstract

A child presenting with cough is common in general practice. Usually the cough is due to an upper respiratory tract infection, however, parents are often concerned that the cough may be asthma. This article focusses on identifying various causes of persistent cough, especially asthma. Significant causes of an acute cough need to be considered such as inhaled foreign bodies, aspiration, infections such as pertussis and pneumonia, and asthma. Clinical history, followed by physical examination and consideration of special investigations will guide the diagnosis. Cough as the sole symptom of asthma is unusual. There is usually associated wheeze and shortness of breath. A family or personal history of atopic symptoms lend weight to the possibility of asthma. In children with asthma, physical examination and even spirometry may be normal between episodes. In some cases where asthma is suspected, a trial of bronchodilation with formal assessment of response may be appropriate.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory genetically determined disease of the skin marked by increased ability to form reagin (IgE), with increased susceptibility to allergic rhinitis and asthma, and hereditary disposition to a lowered threshold for pruritus. Discover the latest research on atopic dermatitis here.

Asthma

This feed focuses in Asthma in which your airways narrow and swell. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.

Related Papers

Marquette Medical Review
L E PRICKMAN
La semaine des hôpitaux : organe fondé par l'Association d'enseignement médical des hôpitaux de Paris
J J DEBAIN
Archivos argentinos de pediatría
J A Vaccaro
Deutsche Krankenpflegezeitschrift
H S Otto
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved