Review
Open Access

Cough: are children really different to adults?

Cough20051:7

https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-9974-1-7

©  Chang; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2005

Received: 06 July 2005

Accepted: 20 September 2005

Published: 20 September 2005

Abstract

Worldwide paediatricians advocate that children should be managed differently from adults. In this article, similarities and differences between children and adults related to cough are presented. Physiologically, the cough pathway is closely linked to the control of breathing (the central respiratory pattern generator). As respiratory control and associated reflexes undergo a maturation process, it is expected that the cough would likewise undergo developmental stages as well. Clinically, the 'big three' causes of chronic cough in adults (asthma, post-nasal drip and gastroesophageal reflux) are far less common causes of chronic cough in children. This has been repeatedly shown by different groups in both clinical and epidemiological studies. Therapeutically, some medications used empirically for cough in adults have little role in paediatrics. For example, anti-histamines (in particular H1 antagonists) recommended as a front-line empirical treatment of chronic cough in adults have no effect in paediatric cough. Instead it is associated with adverse reactions and toxicity. Similarly, codeine and its derivatives used widely for cough in adults are not efficacious in children and are contraindicated in young children. Corticosteroids, the other front-line empirical therapy recommended for adults, are also minimally (if at all) efficacious for treating non-specific cough in children. In summary, current data support that management guidelines for paediatric cough should be different to those in adults as the aetiological factors and treatment in children significantly differ to those in adults.

Introduction

To health care professionals who work with them, children are clearly different to adults but this seems less obvious to some. "Children swallow just like adults", remarked an academic speech pathologist when commenting on dysphagia and cough. "Children are the same as adults. It's just the behaviour that is different", remarked another specialist. Paediatricians world-wide passionately advocate that childhood illnesses should be managed differently to adults as extrapolation of adult based data to children can result in unfavourable consequences [1, 2]. This article provides an update on paediatric issues on cough and highlights the differences between adults and children that are relevant to cough.

Physiology

Central and peripheral cough pathway

The central pathway for cough is a brainstem reflex linked to control of breathing (the central respiratory pattern generator) [3], which undergoes a maturation process such that the reference values for normal respiratory rate in children are different to those in adults [4] and reaches adult values in adolescence. In early life, cough is related to primitive reflexes (laryngeal chemoreflex), that undergo maturation resulting in significant differences in swallowing between young children and adults [5]. Plasticity (modulation) of the cough reflex has been shown [3, 6], although it is unknown if the young have greater plasticity (propensity to modulate or change). Like other organs directly relevant to cough (eg the systemic and mucosal immune system) [7, 8] or not directly related to cough (eg the renal system), one can speculate that the cough reflex has maturational differences as well. Indeed children differ from adults in some immunological response to lipopolysaccharides [9]. Also, children, especially their neurological system, are more sensitive than adults to certain environmental exposures [10]. For example, in children, the utility of CT scans has to be balanced with the reported increased lifetime cancer mortality risk, which is age and dose dependent. Although the risk is relatively negligible, children have 10 times increased risk compared to middle aged adults [10]. Lastly, the distinct differences in respiratory physiology and neuro-physiology between young children and adults include maturational differences in airway, respiratory muscle and chest wall structure, sleep characteristics, respiratory reflexes and respiratory control [11–13].

Cortical control of cough and psychological determinants

Cough can be cortically modulated [14]. In adults, chronic cough is associated with anxiety as an independent factor [15]; such data are unavailable in children. Adults seeking medical attention are primarily self-driven but in children, parental and professional expectations influence consulting rates and prescription of medications [16–18]. Reporting of childhood respiratory symptoms is biased and parental perception of childhood cough plays an important role [19, 20]. In asthma, parental psychosocial factors (in particular anxiety) were strongest predictors for emergency attendances for children whereas in adults, asthma severity factors were the risk factors [21]. In cough, use of cough medications and presentation to doctors were less likely in children with higher educated mothers [22]. Hutton and colleagues' described "parents who wanted medicine at the initial visit reported more improvement at follow-up, regardless of whether the child received drug, placebo, or no treatment" [23]. Rietveld and colleagues showed that children were more likely to cough under certain psychological settings [24, 25].

Clinical evaluation of cough

What is 'normal' or expected?

'Normal' children occasionally cough as described by two studies that objectively measured cough frequency [26, 27]. Normal children without a preceding upper respiratory infection in the last 4 weeks have up to 34 cough epochs per 24 hours [26]. In another study, 0–141 cough epochs/24 hours (median 10) were recorded in 'controls' (these children were considered well by parents and attending school and were age, gender and season matched [27]). Medicalisation of an otherwise common symptom can foster exaggerated anxiety about perceived disease and lead to unnecessary medical products and service [28]. Cough in this situation is termed 'expected cough'. Such data are unavailable in adults.

However, concerns of parents presenting to general practitioners for their children's cough can be extreme (fear of child dying, chest damage) [29, 30]. Other parental concerns were disturbed sleep and relief of discomfort [29]. However the burden of illness on children and their family has not been well described. In contrast adult data have shown that chronic cough causes a significant burden of illness (physical and psychosocial) that is often not appreciated by physicians [20] as reflected in adult cough-QOL scores [31, 32].

What is acute and what is chronic?

The utility of definitions depends on the intention of use. In adults, chronic cough is defined as cough lasting >8 weeks [33]. In children the definition of chronic cough varies from 3-weeks duration [34] to 12-weeks [35, 36]. There are no studies that have clearly defined when cough should be defined chronic or persistent. As studies have shown that cough related to ARIs resolves within 1 to 3 weeks in most children [17, 37] it would be logical to define chronic cough as daily cough lasting >4 weeks.

Classification of paediatric cough

Paediatric cough can be classified in several ways, based on aetiology [38], timeframe [35] and characteristic (moist vs dry). For practical reasons, guidelines based on cough duration, combined with cough quality have been developed [35]. An evidence based guideline specific for paediatrics will be published as part of the American College of Chest Physicians' Guidelines on the Management of Cough in Adults and Children [39]. The previous guidelines which stated that "the approach to managing cough in children is similar to the approach in adults" [34] was arguably inaccurate.

Unlike cough in adults, paediatric cough has also been classified into specific and non-specific cough (with an overlap) for practical reasons (figure 1). Indeed, the most common paradigm encountered in clinical paediatrics when cough is a presenting feature is the differentiation between specific and non-specific cough. Specific cough refers to cough in the presence of pointers (table 1) that suggest the presence of an underlying aetiology. A thorough history and examination to elucidate these points are necessary when assessing children with cough and in the majority of situations, specific cough aetiologies can be defined. While some of these symptoms and signs are common in adults (such as haemoptysis), others are not (such as failure to thrive). Unlike in adults, where cough characteristics has been shown to be of little diagnostic value [40], paediatricians often recognise certain cough qualities such as staccato cough (table 2). A chronic moist cough is always abnormal and represents excessive airway secretions [41]. However in a small group of children natural resolution may occur [42] and a specific paediatric diagnostic category may not be found [43]. A chronic dry cough however may represent a dry phase of an otherwise usually moist cough or airway secretions too little to influence the cough quality [41]. Chronic dry cough in the absence of specific pointers (table 1) in the history and examination is termed 'non-specific cough' or 'isolated cough', ie cough is the sole symptom. In non-specific cough, the aetiology is ill defined and we suspect that the majority are related to post viral cough and/or increased cough receptor sensitivity [44, 45]. However in the majority of children, it is most likely related to a non serious aetiology [38] or may spontaneously resolve as evidenced in the placebo arms of RCTs [46–48] and cohort studies [49–51]. Thus if one assumes that the natural resolution of non-specific cough occurs in 50% of children, 85 children per study arm is required in a randomised controlled trial to detect a 50% difference between active and placebo groups, for a study powered at 90% at the 5% significance level.
Figure 1

Classification of types of cough in children (reproduced from [110]).

Table 1

Pointers to underlying aetiology i.e. presence of specific cough [39,110]

auscultatory findings

cough characteristics eg cough with choking, cough quality (table 2), cough starting from birth

cardiac abnormalities (including murmurs)

chest pain

chest wall deformity

chronic dyspnoea

daily moist or productive cough

digital clubbing

exertional dyspnoea

failure to thrive

feeding difficulties

haemoptysis

immune deficiency

neurodevelopmental abnormality

recurrent pneumonia

Table 2

Classical recognisable cough [39,110]

Barking or brassy cough

Croup [252] tracheomalacia [132,134] habit cough [157,253]

Honking

Psychogenic [254]

Paroxysomal (with/without whoop)

Pertussis and parapertussis [123,255]

Staccato

Chlamydia in infants [256]

Cough productive of casts

Plastic bronchitis [257]

Symptoms

Nocturnal cough

In both adults and children, a major problem in utilising the symptom of nocturnal cough is the unreliability and inconsistency of its reporting when compared to objective measurements [52–54]. In children, however, two groups have reported that parents were able to detect change [46, 54], albeit only moderately well. The ability to detect cough change was better in children with a history of troublesome recurrent cough (r = 0.52) than in children without (r = 0.38) [54]. Relationship between change in cough frequency and change in subjective scores has not been examined in adults.

Nocturnal cough is often used as a hallmark of asthma as children with asthma often report troublesome nocturnal cough [55]. However in a community based study, only a third of children with isolated nocturnal cough had an asthma-like illness [56]. To date there are no studies that have objectively documented that nocturnal cough is worse than daytime cough in children with unstable asthma. One study showed that cough frequency was higher during the day than at night in a group of children with stable asthma who were on ICS yet had elevated levels of eNO but not sputum eosinophils [57] (arguably the best marker for eosinophilic inflammation in stable asthma [58]) in schoolchildren. Whether the increased eNO is a marker of asthma instability or related to other causes of elevated nitric oxide (such as environmental pollutants) [59, 60] is unknown. Nocturnal cough has been reviewed elsewhere [61].

Cough quality

Unlike adults, cough quality is associated with specific aetiology in children (table 2). Except for brassy cough and wet cough, the sensitivity and specificity of cough quality have not been defined [62]. Thus perceived cough quality by parents and clinicians may have limitations. Pertussis-like cough in children may indeed be caused by adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus and Mycoplasma [63]. Children with a dry cough are more likely to naturally resolve than those with wet cough [64]. Young children rarely expectorate even when airway secretions are excessive. Hence wet/moist cough is often used interchangeably with productive cough [65, 66] a term used in adults. We have recently shown the clinical validity of dry and wet/moist cough in children by scoring secretions seen during bronchoscopy [41]. In contrast, quality of cough has been shown to be of little use in adults [40, 67].

Investigations

Children with specific cough usually require a variety of investigations which include chest CT, bronchoscopy, barium meal, video fluoroscopy, nuclear scans, sweat test, etc. The role of these tests for evaluation of lung disease is beyond the scope of this article as it would encompass the entire spectrum of paediatric respiratory illness. The more common problem of non-specific cough is further briefly discussed. In general investigations are rarely needed in non-specific cough.

Airway cellular assessment

Examination of cellular profile of induced sputum, a standard in some adult cough clinics, can only be performed in older children (children >6 years). The majority of children with chronic cough seen by paediatricians are in the toddler age group (1–5 years) where bronchoscopy is necessary to obtain airway cells. In contrast to adult studies, all 4 paediatric studies [51, 68–70] that have examined airway cellularity in children with chronic cough have rarely found an asthma-like profile. Other than assessment of airway specimens for microbiological purposes, the use of airway cellular and inflammatory profile in children with chronic cough is currently entirely limited to supportive diagnosis and research rather than definitive diagnosis. This is in contrast to that in adults with chronic cough where some have suggested use of airway inflammatory profiles to direct therapy [71, 72]. One study in children with 'cough variant asthma' (mean age 11 years) showed that those with a higher percentage (>2.5%) of eosinophils in their sputum were more likely to develop classical asthma on follow-up [73]. There was however no appropriate control group and sputum ECP was unpredictive of asthma [73].

Cough sensitivity measures

In the physiology of cough, gender differences in CRS well recognised in adults [74], are absent in children [44]. In children, CRS is instead influenced by airway calibre and age [44]. An adult type approach to CRS measurement that is reliant on a child inhaling and maintaining an open glottis during actuation of a dosimeter or during nebulisation is unreliable. Furthermore it has been shown in both adults [75, 76] and children [77] that inspiratory flow (which influences lung deposition) influences CRS. Thus in children, regulation of a constant inspiratory flow is necessary for valid results [77]. Increased CRS has been found in children with recurrent cough [44], cough dominant asthma [78] and influenza infection [79]. However testing for CRS is non-diagnostic and its use is still limited to research purposes. In clinical circles, the concept of a temporal increase in CRS has been useful to explain 'expected cough'.

Use of chest and sinus CT scans

The utility of a CT scan in children has to be balanced with the reported increased lifetime cancer mortality risk [10]. The yield of ultrafast CT scans in children with chronic productive cough is 43%, where bronchiectasis was documented [80]. The yield of CT scan in evaluation of a dry cough without the presence of features in table 1 is unknown and arguably should not be performed. Lung cancers are extremely rare in children. In children, there is poor concordance in diagnostic modalities for diagnosing paranasal disease [81]. Also, a single study of paranasal sinus CT findings in children with chronic cough (>4 weeks) described that an abnormality was found in 66% [82]. However this finding has to be interpreted in the context of high rates (50%) of incidental sinus abnormality in asymptomatic children undergoing head CTs [83]. Abnormal sinus radiographs may be found in 18–82% of asymptomatic children [84]. Thus, it is arguably difficult to be confident of an objective diagnosis of nasal space disease as the cause of cough.

Flexible bronchoscopy

Indications for bronchoscopy in children with chronic cough include suspicion of airway abnormality, persistent changes on CXR, suspicion of an inhaled foreign body, evaluation of aspiration lung disease and for microbiological and lavage purposes. In these situations, cough is usually specific rather than non-specific. Bronchoscopically defined airway abnormality was present in 46.3% of children with chronic cough in a tertiary centre-based study, whereas in Callahan's [85] series, bronchoscopy assisted in diagnosis in 5.3% of children [86]. In a European series, chronic cough was the indication in 11.6% of the 1233 paediatric bronchoscopies performed [87].

Spirometry

Spirometry is valuable in the diagnosis of reversible airway obstruction in children with chronic cough. In the early studies on asthma presenting as chronic cough, abnormal baseline lung function was documented [88, 89]. However spirometry is relatively insensitive [90, 91] and a normal spirometry does not exclude underlying respiratory abnormality. In one study of 49 children with chronic cough, spirometry was normal in all who were able to perform the test [86].

Tests for airway hyper-responsiveness

In adults, tests for AHR are relatively easy to perform and direct AHR (methacholine, histamine) is used to exclude asthma [33]. In children (outside a research setting) testing for AHR is reliably performed only in older children (>6 years) and positive AHR especially to direct AHR challenges as an indicator of asthma has questionable validity [92, 93]. Airway cellularity (sputum) in asymptomatic children with AHR was similar to children without AHR but significantly different to children with asthma [94]. In children, unlike in adults, the demonstration of AHR in a child with non-specific cough is unlikely to be helpful in predicting the later development of asthma [95] or the response to asthma medications [47]. The only RCT that examined the utility of AHR and response to inhaled salbutamol and ICS [47] found that the presence of AHR could not predict the efficacy of these therapies for cough [47]. Another study showed that AHR to hypertonic saline is significantly associated with wheeze and dyspnoea but not associated with dry cough or nocturnal cough once confounders were accounted for [96]. The older studies that equated presence of AHR in children with cough as representative of asthma were not placebo-controlled studies, confounders were not adjusted for, or used unconventional definitions of AHR [97–100]. A recent study using 6 min free running test described that exercise induced symptoms were poor predictors of bronchoconstriction [101]. However interpretation of the study is limited [102].

Other investigatory techniques

The single study on bronchial biopsies in 7 children with chronic cough described the association between early ARI and epithelial inflammation [103]. Bronchial biopsies are easily performed in adults, but are rarely performed in children except in selected centres where the procedure has been shown to be safe [104]. Airways resistance by the interrupter technique (Rint) has been used to asses values in children with cough [105] but Rint is not established in clinical practice and has problems with validity of measurements when undertaken by different investigators [106]. To date, there are no paediatric studies that have evaluated the role of NO or breath condensate in guiding management of chronic cough. Increased NO has been found in asthmatics with cough [57] but is also found in other conditions associated with cough such as environmental pollutants [60].

Outcome measures for cough-related studies

Cough severity indices, broadly divided into subjective and objective outcomes, measure different aspects of cough. In children, measures of CRS have a weak relationship with cough frequency. Subjective cough scores have a stronger and consistent relationship with cough frequency [107]. The choice of indices depends on the reason for performing the measurement [107].

Answers to questions on isolated cough are largely poorly reproducible [108] and nocturnal cough in children is unreliably reported [52, 53]. The kappa value relating the chance-corrected agreement to questions on isolated cough is poor (0.02–0.57) [19, 108, 109] in contrast to isolated wheeze (0.7–1.0) [108]. Biased reporting of cough has been shown; parents who smoke under-report cough in their children [19]. Diary cards for cough have been validated against an objective method and children aged >6 years are better than their parents at quantifying their cough severity [54]. Cough-specific QOL questionnaires exist for adults but not for children. There is a clear need for a paediatric cough specific QOL scores, as adult QOL scores cannot be applied to children. Cough specific objective tests include ambulatory and non-ambulatory objective cough meters, CRS and cough peak flows (reviewed elsewhere) [110]. Adult type instruments require modification for use in children [111].

Aetiological factors

Although some diseases are common to both adults and children, the pattern of many respiratory illnesses in children is clearly different to adults; eg viruses associated with the common cold in adults can cause serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis and croup in previously well young children [112]. Both of these respiratory syndromes are non existent in adults. Conversely, common causes of cough and respiratory diseases in adults such as chronic bronchitis [113] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not recognised diagnostic entities in paediatric respiratory literature and main textbooks [114, 115]. The following highlights some of the differences between children and adults.

Cohort studies

Some hospital based clinical studies of children presenting with chronic cough have found asthma as the most common cause [116, 117] but others have not [43, 86]. In a prospective review of 81 children with chronic cough, none had asthma on final diagnosis [43]. In a retrospective review of 49 children with chronic cough, none of the children had asthma as the sole final diagnosis [86]. There is little doubt that the aetiology of cough would depend on the setting, selection criteria of children studied [69, 86] follow-up rate [118] and depth of clinical history, examination and investigations performed. When airway profiles have been examined in children with isolated chronic cough, the studies have shown very few children with airway inflammation consistent with asthma [68–70]. Marguet and colleagues concluded that "chronic cough is not associated with the cell profiles suggestive of asthma and in isolation should not be treated with prophylactic anti-asthma drugs" [70].

Acute respiratory infections and post infections

Most coughs in early childhood are caused by viral ARIs [17, 119]. In children with an ARI, 26% were still unwell 7-days after the initial consultation and 6% by day 14 [120]. Cough was however not specifically reported [120]. A systematic review on the natural history of acute cough in children aged 0–4 years in primary care reported that the majority of children improve with time but 5–10% progress to develop bronchitis and/or pneumonia [17]. Post-viral cough is a term that refers to the presence of cough after the acute viral respiratory infection. In Monto's review [121] the mean annual incidence of total respiratory illness per person year ranges from 5.0–7.95 in children aged less than 4 years to 2.4–5.02 in children aged 10–14 years [121]. A recent Australian study recorded respiratory infection/episode rates of 2.2–5.3 per person per year for children aged ≤10 years (mean duration of 5.5–6.8 days) [122]. That for adults (>20-years) was 1.7 [122].

Infections such as pertussis and mycoplasma can cause persistent cough not associated with other symptoms [123]. Pertussis should be suspected especially if the child has had a known contact with someone with pertussis even if the child is fully immunised as partial vaccine failure is an emergent problem [124]. A hospital study examined PCR and serology for pertussis in a prospective cohort of 40 children with chronic (>3 weeks) cough and found that only 5% of these children had laboratory evidence of pertussis [42]. No other published data on chronic cough have examined pertussis and mycoplasma infections with other cough etiologies. In a prospective childhood vaccine study, presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae, mycoplasma, parapertussis and pertussis were sought in children (aged 3–34 months) if a child or household member coughed for >7 days. In total, 115 aetiological agents were identified in 64% of episodes with cough [123]. The most common single agent was pertussis in 56% (median cough of 51 days), followed by Mycoplasma in 26% (cough for 23 days), Chlamydia in 17% (26 days), and parapertussis 2% [123]. Other microbial studies were not done. A factor that needs to be considered when analysing such results is determining whether the infectious agent isolated is the cause of the cough, as the percentage of asymptomatic infection can be very high (54%) [125]. In children who received the acellular pertussis vaccination, pertussis infection is clinically difficult to distinguish from diseases associated with coughing caused by other viral or bacterial infections [126].

Inhalation of foreign body

Cough is the most common symptom in some series of acute foreign material inhalation but not in others [127]. A history of a choking episode is absent in about half [128]. Presentations are usually acute [129] but chronic cough can also be the presentation of previously missed foreign body inhalation [130]. Unlike adults, a history of acute aspiration in young children has to be obtained from an adult who may not be present at the time of aspiration. Missed foreign bodies in the airways can lead to permanent lung damage [131].

Airway lesions and cough

Chronic cough is well described in children with airway lesions [132–134] and at lesser frequency in adults [135]. An adult study reported that none of 24 patients with tracheomalacia had chronic cough as a presenting symptom [135]. Gormley and colleagues described that 75% of children with tracheomalacia secondary to congenital vascular anomalies had persistent cough at presentation [134]. Other symptoms include stridor, chronic dyspnoea, recurrent respiratory infections and dysphagia [134]. How common are airway lesions in asymptomatic children is unknown and how the symptom of cough relates to airway lesions can only be postulated.

Environmental pulmonary toxic agents

In-utero tobacco smoke exposure alters respiratory control and responses [136, 137], pulmonary development and physiology [138, 139]. Its influence on the developing central and peripheral cough receptors, pathways and plasticity of the cough pathway [6, 140] is unknown. ETS increases susceptibility to respiratory infections [141, 142] causes adverse respiratory health outcomes [143] and increases coughing illnesses [144, 145]. Increased ETS has also been described in cohorts of children with chronic cough compared to children without cough [69, 69, 143, 144, 146, 147]. Indoor biomass combustion increases coughing illness associated with acute respiratory infections with an exposure-response effect [148]. Exposure to other ambient pollutants (particulate matter [149, 150] nitrogen dioxide, gas cooking [151] etc) is also associated with increased cough in children in cross sectional [149, 150] and longitudinal studies [152] especially in the presence of other respiratory illnesses such as asthma [149]. Some studies however have not shown this effect [153, 154] which is likely partially related to problems with question-based epidemiological studies on isolated and nocturnal cough [14, 19].

Functional respiratory disorder

Habitual cough or cough as a 'vocal tic' maybe transient or chronic and are far more commonly reported in the paediatric literature than in the adult literature [41]. In one series, psychogenic cough accounted for 10% of children with chronic cough [116]. A Swedish community study described the prevalence of chronic vocal tics was 0.3% in girls and 0.7% in boys [155]. The cough in psychogenic cough is typically thought to be absent at night. However objective cough recording in a child with psychogenic cough showed that cough during sleep does occur [156]. The typical psychogenic cough (honking cough) recognisable in children [67, 157] is rare in adults [67]. In one study, 52% of those who had their cough recorded had barking (brassy, croupy) or honking cough [158]. However, brassy or croupy cough is also found in other childhood conditions associated with cough such as tracheomalacia [41].

The big three of chronic cough in adults

In adults, asthma, GORD, post-nasal drip (the big three) are said to cause upto 72–90% of chronic cough [159, 160]. In contrast, there is no good data that suggest that these are common causes of chronic cough in children.

Asthma, reactive airway disease and cough in children

There is little doubt that children with asthma may present with cough. However, the majority of children with cough do not have asthma [14, 69, 70, 161, 162]. The use of isolated cough as a marker of asthma is indeed controversial with more recent evidence showing that in most children, isolated cough does not represent asthma [35, 162]. Cough associated with asthma without a co-existent respiratory infection is usually dry [163]. Some medium term cohort studies on children with cough have suggested that the majority of these children eventually developed asthma [73, 164] but other studies have not [49, 50, 165, 166]. The Tuscon group showed that recurrent cough presenting early in life resolved in the majority [166]. Furthermore, these children with recurrent cough and without wheeze, had neither AHR nor atopy, and significantly differed from those with classical asthma, with or without cough [166]. Several other studies also support McKenzie's annotation [161] which highlighted the problem of over-diagnosis of asthma based on the symptom of cough alone [118]. In a prospective community study with a mean follow-up period of 3 years, 56% of children with recurrent cough aged 4–7 years later became asymptomatic; 37% reported continuing cough and 7.2% developed wheeze [49]. The proportion of children in the group who subsequently developed wheeze was similar to the asymptomatic group, who later developed wheeze on follow-up (10%) [49]. Faniran and colleagues concluded in their community based study of 1178 children that "cough variant asthma is probably a misnomer for most children in the community who have persistent cough" [118]. Thus in community settings, epidemiological studies have shown that isolated persistent cough is rarely asthma [118, 161, 165, 167]. These data have been previously reviewed [14].

Upper airways disorders and cough in children

In adults, post-nasal drip has been reported as a common cause of cough [40]. In children, although nasal discharge and cough have been reported as the two most prominent symptoms in children with chronic sinusitis (30–120 days) [168] supportive evidence of cause and effect in children is less convincing [169]. A prospective study has shown that although sinusitis is a common condition in childhood, it is not associated with asthma or cough when the confounding factor of allergic rhinitis was removed [170]. The relationship between nasal secretions and cough is more likely linked by common aetiology (infection and/or inflammation causing both) or due to clearing of secretions reaching the larynx. Using a continuous infusion of 2.5 mls/min of distilled water into the pharynx of well adults, Nishino and colleagues demonstrated that laryngeal irritation and cough only occurred in the presence of hypercapnia (45–55 mmHg) [171] suggesting that pharyngeal secretions alone do not cause cough. Physiologically this is to be expected as the pharynx is not innervated by the vagus nerve, a necessary component of the cough reflex [172]. One study described increased extrathoracic AHR without bronchial AHR to methacholine in a group of children presenting with chronic cough [173] and other studies have linked extrathoracic AHR to sinusitis and rhinitis [174, 175]. However, the repeatability and validity of extrathoracic AHR in children are ill-defined. Therapeutic approaches for allergic rhinitis have been well summarised [176].

GOR and cough in children

In adults, GORD is reported to cause up to 41% of chronic cough [177]. In non-controlled trials the improvement rate of cough by non-surgical intervention e.g. with PPI alone [178] or PPI with motility agents [179] for GORD associated cough, cough improvement rates of 86–100% have been reported [178, 179]. However a systematic review found much less convincing results [180]. In children the data relating isolated cough to GORD is even far less convincing. The section on upper airway symptoms of a clinical practice guideline on the evaluation and management of children with GOR included a discussion on cough and GOR, concluded "...there is insufficient evidence and experience in children for a uniform approach to diagnosis and treatment" [181]. Cough unequivocably (RCT setting) related to acid GOR in adults has been reported to subside in 1–3 weeks [182] but such evidence is unavailable in children [180] and difficult to obtain. While GOR may be the reason for persistent cough [183, 184] cough can also cause GOR [185, 186]. Proof of cause and effect in children is rare [187] and it is difficult to delineate cause and effect [188]. There are limited studies which have prospectively examined causes of chronic cough in children. Those available suggest GOR is infrequently the sole cause of isolated cough in children. One prospective study of the causes of chronic cough in children found only one child with GOR out of a series of 38 [116]. A retrospective study found co-existent GOR in 4 of 49 children with chronic cough [86]. In contrast to data in adults where GOR is a frequent cause of chronic cough [159, 189] there is indeed no current convincing evidence that GOR is a common cause of non-specific cough in children. Although case series have shown the link between supra-oesophageal reflux and GOR in children, there is a lack of convincing data, as Rudolph summarised "No studies have definitively demonstrated symptom improvement with medical or surgical therapy for the latter symptom presentations" [190].

Other aetiologies

Eosinophilic bronchitis and allergy

Eosinophilic bronchitis, a well described cause of chronic cough in adults [191] is not well recognised in children. 'Allergic or atopic cough' is a poorly defined condition even in adults [192]. The association between atopy and respiratory symptoms has been the subject of many epidemiological studies [193, 194]. Some have described greater respiratory symptom chronicity [195] but others have not [193, 194]. Inconsistent findings regarding cough and atopy are also present in the literature; reports of increased atopy (or diseases associated with atopy) in children with cough have been found in some cohort and cross sectional studies [165, 196] but not in others [46, 47, 56, 166]. Cough as a functional symptom can also be mistaken for an allergic disorder in children [197].

Medications and treatment side-effects

Chronic cough has been reported as a side effect of ACE inhibitors (2–16.7%) [198–200], inhaled ICS [201] and as a complication of chronic vagus nerve stimulation [202]. In children, cough associated with ACE inhibitors resolves within days (3–7 days) after withdrawing the medication [198, 199] and may not recur when the medication is recommenced [199]. The package insert for omeprazole includes cough as an adverse event in 1.1% of adults and a single case report was recently published [203] but no reports on children were found.

Otogenic causes – Arnold's ear-cough reflex

In approximately 2.3–4.2% of people (bilateral in 0.3–2%), the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is present and the Arnold's ear-cough reflex can be elicited [204–206]. Case reports of chronic cough associated with ear canal stimulation from wax impaction and cholesteatoma have been reported [207, 208]. In children, the significance of the ear reflex and cough was described as early as 1963 [209] although recently reported again [210].

Management options of non-specific cough

Cough is subject to the period-effect (spontaneous resolution of cough) [211] and thus non-placebo controlled intervention studies have to be interpreted with caution [212]. If any medications are trialled, a 'time to response' should be considered and considerations given to patient profile and setting (eg community practice vs tertiary hospital practice). The same empirical therapy (for asthma, GOR, and PND) suggested in adults [33] is largely inappropriate in children.

Physician and parental expectations

Providing parents with information on the expected time length of resolution of acute respiratory infections may reduce anxiety in parents and the need for medication use and additional consultation [120]. Appreciation of specific concerns and anxieties, and an understanding of why they present are thus important when consulting children with non-specific cough. Educational input is best done with consultation about the child's specific condition [213]. A RCT [214] examining the effect of a pamphlet and a videotape promoting the judicious use of antibiotics, found that their simple educational effort was successful in modifying parental attitudes about the judicious use of antibiotics.

Over the counter cough medications and anti-histamines

In contrast to adults where OTC medications, in particular codeine and its derivatives have been shown to be useful, systemic reviews for children have concluded that cough OTCs have little, if any, benefit in the symptomatic control of cough in children [215, 216]. Moreover OTCs have significant morbidity and mortality [217, 218] and are common unintentional ingestions in children aged <5 years [219]. Use of diphenhydramine is also non beneficial for symptomatic treatment of cough related to pertussis [220]. The use of steam inhalation, vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea for upper RTI has been summarised [221] with little benefit, if any, for symptomatic relief of cough for adults and children.

The efficacy of anti-histamines in relieving cough in children is minimal, if at all [222]. Thus, unlike adults, the use of anti-histamine therapy for chronic cough in children is mostly unjustified. Whether this difference between children and adults is related to atopic states is unknown. A RCT on ketotifen did not show any clinical benefit in the treatment of 113 infants and children with chronic cough and/or wheeze [223]. A systematic review of anti-histamine and nasal decongestion combinations, and anti-histamines in OTC medications has shown that these pharmaceuticals were no more likely than placebo in reducing acute cough in children [215]. The use of these medications that contain H1 receptor antagonist has to be balanced with adverse events [217, 224, 225] which includes reported death from toxicity in young children [217, 218]. The latest published RCT (n = 100) also showed that diphenhydramine (a first generation H1-antagonist) and dextromethorphan were no different to placebo in reducing nocturnal cough or sleep disturbance in both the children and parent(s) [225]. Like other RCTs there was a significant improvement in both placebo and active arms for the cough outcomes measured [225].

Asthma therapy for cough

Old cohort studies describing that asthma therapy for that era (oral orciprenaline, salbutamol syrup [226, 227] theophylline [97, 227] and metaproterenol with theophylline) [88] was useful in abolishing cough included children with clinically recognisable asthma. For example, 8 of 11 children in Konig's study had cough with co-existant chest pain or dyspnea on exertion) [88] 10 of 32 children in another study had abnormal examination findings [89].

In ambulatory children with acute cough (1–10 days) with no history of asthma and a normal chest examination, oral albuterol was not effective in reducing cough frequency or duration [48]. In a meta-analysis, Smucy et al likewise concluded that "there is no evidence to support using beta2-agonists in children with acute cough and no evidence of airflow obstruction" [228]. There is only one study on use of inhaled salbutamol in chronic cough (median of 8-weeks) which also showed no benefit [47]. There is no evidence for the use of anti-cholinergics for in children with non-specific cough [229]. Use of bronchodilators must be weighed against adverse events (eg tremor, irritability [48] behaviour change, cost).

Only 2 RCTs on ICS for chronic non-specific cough in children have been published and both groups have cautioned against prolonged use of ICS [46, 47]. There is no RCT on oral steroids for non-specific cough in children. In cough associated with pertussis, dexamethasone provides no significant benefit for the symptomatic relief of cough [220]. Even in children with wheeze, a RCT found that oral steroids may confer no benefit [230]. In contrast to high doses used in adults, low dose ICS has been shown to be effective in the management of the majority of childhood asthma [231–233] and there were reported significant adverse events on high doses [234, 235]. Thus if a trial of asthma therapy is ever warranted, use of a moderate dose (400 mcg/day equivalent of budesonide) is suggested. This practice is however discouraged in most settings. As the earlier studies in adults and children that utilised medications for asthma for the era reported that cough related to asthma completely resolved by 2–7 days [88, 89, 97, 236] it is recommended that reassessment is done in 2–3 weeks. Cough unresponsive to ICS should not be treated with increased doses of ICS. Cough that resolves with ICS use may be related to the period effect (spontaneous resolution) [211] or a transient effect responsive to ICS use (ICS may also impact on non-asthmatic airways with pulmonary toxicants [237]). Thus clinicians should be cognisant that the child that appears to respond to ICS does not necessarily have asthma and the child should be re-evaluated off asthma treatment.

Cromoglycate and nedocromil reduces cough associated with asthma [238, 239] and in children born prematurely [240]. An open, single arm trial reported significant reduction in cough scores from 30 to 15/week after 2-weeks of treatment with nedocromil (4 mg qid) with no additional benefit in subsequent 4-weeks [241]. There are no published RCTs [242]. Leukotriene receptor antagonists have been examined in adults for cough [243] but there is no RCT data in children. Theophylline utilized in old studies [97, 227] may have an effect on cough separate from its 'anti-asthmatic' properties but there are no RCTs in children [244] and theophylline has a narrow therapeutic range. Oral theophylline, but not placebo, induced complete remission in adults with ACE inhibitor related cough [245]. There is a need for RCTs examining the effectiveness of theophylline for non-specific cough in children.

Anti-microbials

The American Academy of Family Physician's guidelines discourages use of antibiotics except when rhinosinusitis and cough are present and not improving after 10 days [246]. Meta-analysis on anti-microbials for acute bronchitis (recent onset of productive cough without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinusitis or pneumonia) in older children (aged >8 years) and adults showed a small benefit of 0.58 days but with significantly more adverse events [221]. In subacute cough, two paediatric RCT have shown that anti-microbials (amoxycillin/clavulanic acid [247] and erythromycin [248]) were more likely to achieve 'clinical cure' and also prevented progression of illness defined by need for antibiotics [249]. The quality of cough in both studies was not clearly defined but the secretions in both studies cultured M catarrhalis [247, 248].

Cessation of ETS and other environmental toxicants

In the management of any child with cough irrespective of the aetiology, attention to exacerbation factors is encouraged. A single report was found on cessation of parental smoking as a successful form of therapy for the children's cough [250]. Behavioural counselling for smoking mothers has been shown to reduce young children's ETS exposure in both reported and objective measures of ETS [251].

Conclusion

Cough is very common and in the majority is reflective of expected childhood respiratory infections. However cough may also be representative of a significant serious disorder and all children with chronic cough should have a thorough clinical review to identify specific respiratory pointers. Physiologically, there are similarities and significant differences between adults and children. Expectedly, the aetiologies and management of cough in a child differ to those in an adult. Cough in children should be treated based on aetiology and there is no evidence for using medications for symptomatic relief of cough or for an empirical approach based on the big three adult aetiologies. The use of medications are discouraged based on current evidence and if medications are used, it is imperative that the children are reviewed within the time frame of 'time to response' and medications ceased if there is no effect. Irrespective of diagnosis, environmental influences and parental expectations should be reviewed and managed accordingly as cough impacts on the quality of life of parents and children. Children with cough should be managed differently to adults as the aetiological factors and treatment in children differ to those in adults.

Abbreviations

ACE: 

Angiotensin converting enzyme

AHR: 

Airway hyper-responsiveness

ARI: 

Acute respiratory infection

CRS: 

Cough receptor sensitivity

CXR: 

Chest X-Ray

CT: 

Computed Tomography

ETS: 

Exposure to tobacco smoke

FTT: 

Failure to thrive

GOR: 

Gastroesophageal reflux

HRCT: 

High resolution computed tomography of the chest

ICS: 

Inhaled corticosteroids

OTC: 

Over the counter

eNO: 

exhaled nitric oxide

QOL: 

Quality of Life

RCT: 

Randomised controlled trial

PCR: 

Polymerase chain reaction

Declarations

Authors’ Affiliations

(1)
Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Physician, NHMRC Practitioner Fellow, Associate Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital

References

  1. Smyth RL: Research with children. BMJ. 2001, 322: 1377-1378. 10.1136/bmj.322.7299.1377.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  2. Sinaiko AR, Daniels SR: The use of short-acting nefedipine in children with hypertension: Another example of the need for comphrehensive drug tesing in children. J Paediatr. 2001, 139: 7-9. 10.1067/mpd.2001.116163.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  3. Bonham AC, Sekizawa S, Joad JP: Plasticity of central mechanisms for cough. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2004, 17: 453-457. 10.1016/j.pupt.2004.09.008.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  4. Hay AD, Schroeder K, Fahey T: Acute cough in children. BMJ. 2004, 328: 1062-10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1062.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  5. Thach BT: Maturation and transformation of reflexes that protect the laryngeal airway from liquid aspiration from fetal to adult life. Am J Med. 2001, 111 (Suppl 8A): 69S-77S. 10.1016/S0002-9343(01)00860-9.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  6. Undem BJ, Carr MJ, Kollarik M: Physiology and plasticity of putative cough fibres in the Guinea pig. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2002, 15: 193-198. 10.1006/pupt.2002.0362.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  7. Gleeson M, Cripps AW, Clancy RL: Modifiers of the human mucosal immune system. Immunol Cell Biol. 1995, 73: 397-404.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  8. Smart JM, Suphioglu C, Kemp AS: Age-related T cell responses to allergens in childhood. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003, 33: 317-324. 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2003.01583.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  9. Tulic MK, Fiset PO, Manuokion JJ, Frankiel S, Lavigne F, Eidelman DH, Hamid Q: Roll of toll like receptor 4 in protection by bacterial lipopolysaccharide in the nasal mucosa of children but not adults. Lancet. 2004, 363: 1689-1698. 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16253-3.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  10. Brenner DJ: Estimating cancer risks from pediatric CT: going from the qualitative to the quantitative. Pediatr Radiol. 2002, 32: 228-3. 10.1007/s00247-002-0671-1.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  11. Nunn JF: Applied Respiratory Physiology. 1993, London: Butterworths, 4Google Scholar
  12. Polgar G, Weng T: The functional development of the respiratory system from the period of gestation to adulthood. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979, 120: 625-695.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. Haddad GG, Abman SH, Chernick V: Basic Mechanisms of Pediatric Respiratory Disease. 2002, Hamilton: BC Decker IncGoogle Scholar
  14. Chang AB: State of the Art: Cough, cough receptors, and asthma in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999, 28: 59-70. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199907)28:1<59::AID-PPUL10>3.0.CO;2-Y.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  15. Ludviksdottir D, Bjornsson E, Janson C, Boman G: Habitual coughing and its associations with asthma, anxiety, and gastroesophageal reflux. Chest. 1996, 109: 1262-1268.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  16. Cockburn J, Pit S: Prescribing behaviour in clinical practice: patients' expectations and doctors' perceptions of patients' expectations questionnaire study. BMJ. 1997, 315: 520-523.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  17. Hay AD, Wilson AD: The natural history of acute cough in children aged 0 to 4 years in primary care: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract. 2002, 52: 401-409.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. Little P, Gould C, Williamson I, Warner G, Gantley M, Kinmonth AL: Reattendance and complications in a randomised trial of prescribing strategies for sore throat: the medicalising effect of prescribing antibiotics. BMJ. 1997, 315: 350-352.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  19. Dales RE, White J, Bhumgara C, McMullen E: Parental reporting of childrens' coughing is biased. Eur J Epidemiol. 1997, 13: 541-545. 10.1023/A:1007311912777.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  20. Cornford CS: Why patients consult when they cough: a comparison of consulting and non-consulting patients. Br J Gen Pract. 1998, 48: 1751-1754.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
  21. Mellis CM: Can we reduce acute asthma attendances to hospital emergency departments?. Aust NZ J Med. 1997, 27: 275-276.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  22. Dewey CR, Hawkins NS: The relationship between the treatment of cough during early infancy and maternal education level, age and number of other children in the household. ALSPAC Study Team. Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. Child Care Health Dev. 1998, 24: 217-227. 10.1046/j.1365-2214.1998.00067.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  23. Hutton N, Wilson MH, Mellits ED, Baumgardner R, Wissow LS, Bonuccelli C, Holtzman NA, DeAngelis C: Effectiveness of an antihistamine-decongestant combination for young children with the common cold: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Pediatr. 1991, 118: 125-130.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  24. Rietveld S, Van BI, Everaerd W: Psychological confounds in medical research: the example of excessive cough in asthma. Behav Res Ther. 2000, 38: 791-800. 10.1016/S0005-7967(99)00099-6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  25. Rietveld S, Rijssenbeek-Nouwens LH, Prins PJ: Cough as the ambiguous indicator of airway obstruction in asthma. J Asthma. 1999, 36: 177-186.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  26. Munyard P, Bush A: How much coughing is normal?. Arch Dis Child. 1996, 74: 531-534.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  27. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Robertson CF, Newman RG, Sawyer SM: Frequency and perception of cough severity. J Paediatr Child Health. 2001, 37: 142-145. 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2001.00608.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  28. Bonaccorso SN, Sturchio JL: For and against: Direct to consumer advertising is medicalising normal human experience: Against. BMJ. 2002, 324: 910-10.1136/bmj.324.7342.910.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  29. Cornford CS, Morgan M, Ridsdale L: Why do mothers consult when their children cough?. Fam Pract. 1993, 10: 193-196.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  30. Davies MJ, Cane RS, Ranganathan SC, McKenzie SA: Cough, wheeze and sleep. Arch Dis Child. 1998, 79: 465-PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  31. Birring SS, Prudon B, Carr AJ, Singh SJ, Morgan MD, Pavord ID: Development of a symptom specific health status measure for patients with chronic cough: Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Thorax. 2003, 58: 339-343. 10.1136/thorax.58.4.339.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  32. French CT, Irwin RS, Fletcher KE, Adams TM: Evaluation of a cough-specific quality-of-life questionnaire. Chest. 2002, 121: 1123-1131. 10.1378/chest.121.4.1123.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  33. Morice AH, Committee members: The diagnosis and management of chronic cough. Eur Respir J. 2004, 24: 481-492. 10.1183/09031936.04.00027804.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  34. Irwin RS, Boulet LP, Cloutier MM, Fuller R, Gold PM, Hoffstein V, Ing AJ, McCool FD, O'Byrne P, Poe RH, et al: Managing cough as a defense mechanism and as a symptom. A consensus panel report of the American College of Chest Physicians. Chest. 1998, 114: 133S-181S.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  35. Chang AB, Asher MI: A review of cough in children. J Asthma. 2001, 38: 299-309. 10.1081/JAS-100002296.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  36. Phelan PD, Asher MI: Recurrent and persistent cough in children. New Ethicals Journal. 1999, 41-45.Google Scholar
  37. Hay AD, Wilson A, Fahey T, Peters TJ: The duration of acute cough in pre-school children presenting to primary care: a prospective cohort study. Fam Pract. 2003, 20: 696-705. 10.1093/fampra/cmg613.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  38. Bush A: Paediatric problems of cough. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2002, 15: 309-315. 10.1006/pupt.2002.0340.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  39. Chang AB, Glomb WB: Guidelines for evaluating chronic cough in pediatrics. Chest. 2005,Google Scholar
  40. Mello CJ, Irwin RS, Curley FJ: Predictive values of the character, timing, and complications of chronic cough in diagnosing its cause. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996, 156: 997-1003. 10.1001/archinte.156.9.997.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  41. Chang AB, Eastburn MM, Gaffney J, Faoagali J, Cox NC, Masters IB: Cough quality in children: a comparison of subjective vs. bronchoscopic findings. Respiratory Research. 2005, 6: 3-10.1186/1465-9921-6-3.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  42. Marchant JM, Masters IB, Chang AB: Chronic cough in children – understanding the spectrum of disease. Eur Respir J. 2003, 22 (Suppl 45): 176S-Google Scholar
  43. Seear M, Wensley D: Chronic cough and wheeze in children: do they all have asthma?. Eur Respir J. 1997, 10: 342-345. 10.1183/09031936.97.10020342.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  44. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Sawyer SM, Del Brocco S, Robertson CF: Cough sensitivity in children with asthma, recurrent cough, and cystic fibrosis. Arch Dis Child. 1997, 77: 331-334.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  45. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Sawyer SM, Robertson CF: Airway hyperresponsiveness and cough-receptor sensitivity in children with recurrent cough. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997, 155: 1935-1939.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  46. Davies MJ, Fuller P, Picciotto A, McKenzie SA: Persistent nocturnal cough: randomised controlled trial of high dose inhaled corticosteroid. Arch Dis Child. 1999, 81: 38-44.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  47. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Carlin J, Sawyer SM, Robertson CF: Randomised controlled trial of inhaled salbutamol and beclomethasone for recurrent cough. Arch Dis Child. 1998, 79: 6-11.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  48. Bernard DW, Goepp JG, Duggan AK, Serwint JR, owe PC: Is oral albuterol effective for acute cough in non-asthmatic children?. Acta Paediatr. 1999, 88: 465-467. 10.1080/08035259950169891.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  49. Brooke AM, Lambert PC, Burton PR, Clarke C, Luyt DK, Simpson H: The natural history of respiratory symptoms in preschool children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995, 52: 1872-1878.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  50. Brooke AM, Lambert PC, Burton PR, Clarke C, Luyt DK, Simpson H: Recurrent cough: natural history and significance in infancy and early childhood. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1998, 26: 256-261. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199810)26:4<256::AID-PPUL4>3.0.CO;2-O.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  51. Zimmerman B, Silverman FS, Tarlo SM, Chapman KR, Kubay JM, Urch B: Induced sputum: comparison of postinfectious cough with allergic asthma in children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000, 105: 495-499. 10.1067/mai.2000.104933.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  52. Archer LNJ, Simpson H: Night cough counts and diary card scores in asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1985, 60: 473-474.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  53. Falconer A, Oldman C, Helms P: Poor agreement between reported and recorded nocturnal cough in asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993, 15: 209-211.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  54. Chang AB, Newman RG, Carlin J, Phelan PD, Robertson CF: Subjective scoring of cough in children: parent-completed vs child-completed diary cards vs an objective method. Eur Respir J. 1998, 11: 462-466. 10.1183/09031936.98.11020462.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  55. Meijer GG, Postma DS, Wempe JB, Gerritsen J, Knol K, van Aalderen WM: Frequency of nocturnal symptoms in asthmatic children attending a hospital out-patient clinic. Eur Respir J. 1995, 8: 2076-2080. 10.1183/09031936.95.08122076.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  56. Ninan TK, Macdonald L, Russel G: Persistent nocturnal cough in childhood: a population based study. Arch Dis Child. 1995, 73: 403-407.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  57. Li AM, Lex C, Zacharasiewicz A, Wong E, Erin E, Hansel T, Wilson NM, Bush A: Cough frequency in children with stable asthma: correlation with lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, and sputum eosinophil count. Thorax. 2003, 58: 974-978. 10.1136/thorax.58.11.974.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  58. Green RH, Brightling CE, McKenna S, Hargadon B, Parker D, Bradding P, Wardlaw AJ, Pavord ID: Asthma exacerbations and sputum eosinophil counts: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002, 360: 1715-1721. 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11679-5.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  59. Sundblad BM, Larsson BM, Palmberg L, Larsson K: Exhaled nitric oxide and bronchial responsiveness in healthy subjects exposed to organic dust. Eur Respir J. 2002, 20: 426-431. 10.1183/09031936.02.00257402.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  60. Franklin P, Dingle P, Stick S: Raised exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children is associated with domestic formaldehyde levels. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000, 161: 1757-1759.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  61. Chang AB: Cough diary, electronic monitoring and significance in asthma. Monitoring Asthma. Lung Biology in Health and Disease. 2005, London: Marcel Dekker, Inc,Google Scholar
  62. Springer J, Geppetti P, Fischer A, Groneberg DA: Calcitonin gene-related peptide as inflammatory mediator. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2003, 16: 121-130. 10.1016/S1094-5539(03)00049-X.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  63. Wirsing von Konig CH, Rott H, Bogaerts H, Schmitt HJ: A serologic study of organisms possibly associated with pertussis-like coughing. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1998, 17: 645-649. 10.1097/00006454-199807000-00013.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  64. Marchant JM, Masters IB, Chang AB: Defining paediatric chronic bronchitis. Respirology. 2004, 9 (Suppl): A61-Google Scholar
  65. Chang AB, Masel JP, Boyce NC, Wheaton G, Torzillo PJ: Non-CF bronchiectasis-clinical and HRCT evaluation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003, 35: 477-483. 10.1002/ppul.10289.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  66. De Jongste JC, Shields MD: Chronic cough in children. Thorax. 2003, 58: 998-1003. 10.1136/thorax.58.11.998.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  67. Riegel B, Warmoth JE, Middaugh SJ, Kee WG, Nicholson LC, Melton DM, Parikh DK, Rosenberg JC: Psychogenic cough treated with biofeedback and psychotherapy. A review and case report. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1995, 74: 155-158.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  68. Fitch PS, Brown V, Schock BC, Taylor R, Ennis M, Shields MD: Chronic cough in children: bronchoalveolar lavage findings. Eur Respir J. 2000, 16: 1109-1114. 10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.16f15.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  69. Gibson PG, Simpson JL, Chalmers AC, Toneguzzi RC, Wark PAB, Wilson A, Hensley MJ: Airway eosinophilia is associated with wheeze but is uncommon in children with persistent cough and frequent chest colds. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001, 164: 977-981.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  70. Marguet C, Jouen Boedes F, Dean TP, Warner JO: Bronchoalveolar cell profiles in children with asthma, infantile wheeze, chronic cough, or cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999, 159: 1533-1540.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  71. Pizzichini MM, Pizzichini E, Parameswaran K, Clelland L, Efthimiadis A, Dolovich J, Hargreave FE: Nonasthmatic chronic cough: No effect of treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid in patients without sputum eosinophilia. Can Respir J. 1999, 6: 323-330.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  72. Hargreave FE, Leigh R: Induced sputum, eosinophilic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999, 160: S53-S57.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  73. Kim CK, Kim JT, Kang H, Yoo Y, Koh YY: Sputum eosinophilia in cough-variant asthma as a predictor of the subsequent development of classic asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003, 33: 1409-1414. 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2003.01788.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  74. Kastelik JA, Thompson RH, Aziz I, Ojoo JC, Redington AE, Morice AH: Sex-related differences in cough reflex sensitivity in patients with chronic cough. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002, 166: 961-964. 10.1164/rccm.2109061.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  75. Barros MJ, Zammattio SL, Rees PJ: Effect of changes in inspiratory flow rate on cough responses to inhaled capsaicin. Clin Sci. 1991, 81: 539-542.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  76. Barros MJ, Zammattio SL, Rees PJ: The importance of the inspiratory flow rate in the cough response to inhaled citric acid. Clin Sci. 1990, 78: 521-525.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  77. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Roberts RGD, Robertson CF: Capsaicin cough receptor sensitivity test in children. Eur Respir J. 1996, 9: 2220-2223. 10.1183/09031936.96.09112220.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  78. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Robertson CF: Cough receptor sensitivity in children with acute and non-acute asthma. Thorax. 1997, 52: 770-774.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  79. Shimizu T, Mochizuki H, Morikawa A: Effect of influenza A virus infection on acid-induced cough response in children with asthma. Eur Respir J. 1997, 10: 71-74. 10.1183/09031936.97.10010071.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  80. Coren ME, Ng V, Rubens M, Rosenthal M, Bush A: The value of ultrafast computed tomography in the investigation of pediatric chest disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1998, 26: 389-395. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199812)26:6<389::AID-PPUL3>3.0.CO;2-6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  81. Ioannidis JP, Lau J: Technical report: evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of acute uncomplicated sinusitis in children: a systematic overview. Pediatrics. 2001, 108: E57-10.1542/peds.108.3.e57.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  82. Tatli MM, San I, Karaoglanoglu M: Paranasal sinus computed tomographic findings of children with chronic cough. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2001, 60: 213-217. 10.1016/S0165-5876(01)00535-3.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  83. Diament MJ, Senac MO, Gilsanz V, Baker S, Gillespie T, Larsson S: Prevalence of incidental paranasal sinuses opacification in pediatric patients: a CT study. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1987, 11: 426-431.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  84. Shopfner CE, Rossi JO: Roentgen evaluation of the paranasal sinuses in children. AJR. 1973, 118: 176-186.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  85. Callahan CW: Etiology of chronic cough in a population of children referred to a pediatric pulmonologist. Journal of the American Board of Family Practice. 1996, 9: 324-327.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  86. Thomson F, Masters IB, Chang AB: Persistent cough in children – overuse of medications. J Paediatr Child Health. 2002, 38: 578-581. 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2002.00045.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  87. de Blic J, Marchac V, Scheinmann P: Complications of flexible bronchoscopy in children: prospective study of 1,328 procedures. Eur Respir J. 2002, 20: 1271-1276. 10.1183/09031936.02.02072001.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  88. Konig P: Hidden asthma in children. Am J Dis Child. 1981, 135: 1053-1055.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  89. Hannaway PJ, Hopper GDK: Cough Variant Asthma in Children. JAMA. 1982, 247: 206-208. 10.1001/jama.247.2.206.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  90. Marchant JM, Masel JP, Dickinson FL, Masters IB, Chang AB: Application of chest high-resolution computer tomography in young children with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001, 31: 24-29. 10.1002/1099-0496(200101)31:1<24::AID-PPUL1003>3.0.CO;2-D.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  91. Tiddens HA: Detecting early structural lung damage in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002, 34: 228-231. 10.1002/ppul.10134.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  92. Wilson N, Silverman M: Bronchial responsiveness and its measurement. Childhood asthma and other wheezing disorders. Edited by: Silverman M. 1995, London: Chapman & Hall, 142-174.Google Scholar
  93. Wilson NM, Bridge P, Silverman M: Bronchial responsiveness and symptoms in 5–6 year old children: a comparison of direct and indirect challenge. Thorax. 1995, 50: 339-345.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  94. Pin I, Radford S, Kolendowicz R, et al: Airway inflammation in symptomatic and asymptomatic children with methacholine hyperresponsiveness. Eur Respir J. 1993, 6: 1249-1256.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  95. Galvez RA, McLaughlin FJ, Levison H: The role of the methacholine challenge in children with chronic cough. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1987, 79: 331-335. 10.1016/0091-6749(87)90150-3.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  96. Strauch E, Neupert T, Ihorst G, Van's-Gravesande KS, Bohnet W, Hoeldke B, Karmaus W, Kuehr J: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to 4.5% hypertonic saline indicates a past history of asthma-like symptoms in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001, 31: 44-50. 10.1002/1099-0496(200101)31:1<44::AID-PPUL1006>3.0.CO;2-2.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  97. Cloutier MM, Loughlin GM: Chronic cough in children: a manifestation of airway hyperreactivity. Pediatrics. 1981, 67: 6-12.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  98. Paganin F, Seneterre E, Chanez P, Daures JP, Bruel JM, Michel FB, Bousquet J: Computed tomography of the lungs in asthma: influence of disease severity and etiology. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996, 153: 110-114.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  99. de Benedictis FM, Canny GJ, Levison H: Methacholine inhalational challenge in the evaluation of chronic cough in children. J Asthma. 1986, 23: 303-308.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  100. Nishimura H, Mochizuki H, Tokuyama K, Morikawa A: Relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and development of asthma in children with chronic cough. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001, 31: 412-418. 10.1002/ppul.1068.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  101. De Baets F, Bodart E, Dramaix-Wilmet M, Van Daele S, de Bilderling G, Masset S, Vermeire P, Michel O: Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms are poor predictors of bronchoconstriction. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005, 39: 301-305. 10.1002/ppul.20185.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  102. Primhak RA: Commentary on de Baets et al.: Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms are poor predictors of bronchoconstriction. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005, 39: 299-300. 10.1002/ppul.20184.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  103. Heino M, Juntunen-Backman K, Leijala M, Rapola J, Laitinen LA: Bronchial epithelial inflammation in children with chronic cough after early lower respiratory tract illness. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990, 141: 428-432.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  104. Saglani S, Payne DN, Nicholson AG, Scallan M, Haxby E, Bush A: The safety and quality of endobronchial biopsy in children under five years old. Thorax. 2003, 58: 1053-1057. 10.1136/thorax.58.12.1053.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  105. McKenzie SA, Bridge PD, Healy MJ: Airway resistance and atopy in preschool children with wheeze and cough. Eur Respir J. 2000, 15: 833-838. 10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.15e04.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  106. Klug B, Nielsen KG, Bisgaard H: Observer variability of lung function measurements in 2–6-yr-old children. Eur Respir J. 2000, 16: 472-475. 10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.016003472.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  107. Chang AB, Phelan PD, Robertson CF, Roberts RDG, Sawyer SM: Relationship between measurements of cough severity. Arch Dis Child. 2003, 88: 57-60. 10.1136/adc.88.1.57.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  108. Brunekreef B, Groot B, Rijcken B, Hoek G, Steenbekkers A, de Boer A: Reproducibility of childhood respiratory symptom questions. Eur Respir J. 1992, 5: 930-935.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  109. Clifford RD, Radford M, Howell JB, Holgate ST: Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among 7 and 11 year old schoolchildren and association with asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1989, 64: 1118-1125.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  110. Chang AB: Causes, assessment and measurement in children. Cough: Causes, Mechanisms and Therapy. Edited by: Chung FK, Widdicombe JG, Boushey HA. 2003, London: Blackwell Science, 57-73.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  111. Corrigan DL, Paton JY: Pilot study of objective cough monitoring in infants. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003, 35: 350-357. 10.1002/ppul.10267.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  112. Couriel J: Infection in children. Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. Edited by: Ellis M. 1998, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 406-429. 1View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  113. Taussig LM, Smith SM, Blumenfeld R: Chronic bronchitis in childhood: what is it?. Pediatrics. 1981, 67: 1-5.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  114. Chernick V, Boat TF: 1998, Philadelphia: W.B. SaundersGoogle Scholar
  115. Taussig LM, Landau LI: Pediatric Respiratory Medicine. 1999, St. Louis: Mosby, IncGoogle Scholar
  116. Holinger LD: Chronic Cough in Infants and Children. Laryngoscope. 1986, 96: 316-322.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  117. Callahan CW: Cough with asthma: variant or norm?. Journal of Pediatrics. 1996, 128: 440-PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  118. Faniran AO, Peat JK, Woolcock AJ: Persistent cough: is it asthma?. Arch Dis Child. 1998, 79: 411-414.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  119. Ayres JG, Noah ND, Fleming DM: Incidence of episodes of acute asthma and acute bronchitis in general practice 1976–87. Br J Gen Pract. 1993, 43: 361-364.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
  120. Butler CC, Kinnersley P, Hood K, Robling M, Prout H, Rollnick S, Houston H: Clinical course of acute infection of the upper respiratory tract in children: cohort study. BMJ. 2003, 327: 1088-1089. 10.1136/bmj.327.7423.1088.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  121. Monto AS: Studies of the community and family: acute respiratory illness and infection. Epidemiol Rev. 1994, 16: 351-373.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  122. Leder K, Sinclair MI, Mitakakis TZ, Hellard ME, Forbes A: A community-based study of respiratory episodes in Melbourne, Australia. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2003, 27: 399-404.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  123. Hallander HO, Gnarpe J, Gnarpe H, Olin P: Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and persistent cough in children. Scand J Infect Dis. 1999, 31: 281-286. 10.1080/00365549950163581.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  124. Torvaldsen S, Simpson JM, McIntyre PB: Effectiveness of pertussis vaccination in New South Wales, Australia, 1996–1998. Eur J Epidemiol. 2003, 18: 63-69. 10.1023/A:1022588118030.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  125. Schmidt SM, Muller CE, Mahner B, Wiersbitzky SK: Prevalence, rate of persistence and respiratory tract symptoms of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in 1211 kindergarten and school age children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2002, 21: 758-762. 10.1097/00006454-200208000-00012.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  126. Liese JG, Renner C, Stojanov S, Belohradsky BH: Clinical and epidemiological picture of B pertussis and B parapertussis infections after introduction of acellular pertussis vaccines. Arch Dis Child. 2003, 88: 684-687. 10.1136/adc.88.8.684.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  127. Cataneo AJ, Reibscheid SM, Ruiz Junior RL, Ferrari GF: Foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1997, 36: 701-706.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  128. Oguz F, Citak A, Unuvar E, Sidal M: Airway foreign bodies in childhood. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2000, 52: 11-16. 10.1016/S0165-5876(99)00283-9.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  129. Mu L, He P, Sun D: Inhalation of foreign bodies in Chinese children: a review of 400 cases. Laryngoscope. 1991, 101: 657-660.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  130. Raman TS, Mathew S, Ravikumar , Garcha PS: Atelectasis in children. Indian Pediatr. 1998, 35: 429-435.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  131. Karakoc F, Karadag B, Akbenlioglu C, Ersu R, Yildizeli B, Yuksel M, Dagli E: Foreign body aspiration: what is the outcome?. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002, 34: 30-36. 10.1002/ppul.10094.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  132. Wood RE: Localised tracheomalacia or bronchomalacia in children with intractable cough. J Paediatr. 1997, 116: 404-406.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  133. Finder JD: Primary bronchomalacia in infants and children. J Paediatr. 1997, 130: 59-66.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  134. Gormley PK, Colreavy MP, Patil N, Woods AE: Congenital vascular anomalies and persistent respiratory symptoms in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1999, 51: 23-31. 10.1016/S0165-5876(99)00252-9.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  135. Grathwohl KW, Afifi AY, Dillard TA, Olson JP, Heric BR: Vascular rings of the thoracic aorta in adults. Am Surg. 1999, 65: 1077-1083.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  136. Lewis K, Bosque E: Deficient hypoxia awakening response in infants of smoking mothers: Possible relationship to sudden infant death syndrome. J Pediatr. 1995, 127: 668-669.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  137. Cella D, Bullinger M, Scott C, Barofsky I: Group vs individual approaches to understanding the clinical significance of differences or changes in quality of life. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002, 77: 384-392.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  138. Stick S: Pediatric origins of adult lung disease. 1. The contribution of airway development to paediatric and adult lung disease. Thorax. 2000, 55: 587-594. 10.1136/thorax.55.7.587.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  139. Le Souef PN: Tobacco related lung diseases begin in childhood. Thorax. 2000, 55: 1063-1067. 10.1136/thorax.55.12.1063.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  140. Joad JP, Munch PA, Bric JM, Evans SJ, Pinkerton KE, Chen CY, Bonham AC: Passive Smoke Effects on Cough and Airways in Young Guinea Pigs: Role of Brainstem Substance P. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004, 169: 499-504. 10.1164/rccm.200308-1139OC.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  141. Cohen S, Tyrrell DA, Russell MA, Jarvis MJ, Smith AP: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and susceptibility to the common cold. Am J Public Health. 1993, 83: 1277-1283.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  142. Wu-Williams AH, Samet JM: Environmental tobacco smoke: exposure-response relationships in epidemiologic studies. Risk Anal. 1990, 10: 39-48.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  143. Li JS, Peat JK, Xuan W, Berry G: Meta-analysis on the association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the prevalence of lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999, 27: 5-13. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199901)27:1<5::AID-PPUL3>3.0.CO;2-5.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  144. Couriel JM: Passive smoking and the health of children. Thorax. 1994, 49: 731-734.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  145. Lister SM, Jorm LR: Parental smoking and respiratory illnesses in Australian children aged 0–4 years: ABS 1989–90 National Health Survey results. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1998, 22: 781-786.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  146. Chang AB, Harrhy VA, Simpson JL, Masters IB, Gibson PG: Cough, airway inflammation and mild asthma exacerbation. Arch Dis Child. 2002, 86: 270-275. 10.1136/adc.86.4.270.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  147. Charlton A: Children's coughs related to parental smoking. BMJ. 1984, 288: 1647-1649.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  148. Ezzati M, Kammen D: Indoor air pollution from biomass combustion and acute respiratory infections in Kenya: an exposure-response study. Lancet. 2001, 358: 619-624. 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05777-4.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  149. Vedal S, Petkau J, White R, Blair J: Acute effects of ambient inhalable particles in asthmatic and nonasthmatic children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998, 157: 1034-1043.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  150. Hirsch T, Weiland SK, von Mutius E, Safeca AF, Grafe H, Csaplovics E, Duhme H, Keil U, Leupold W: Inner city air pollution and respiratory health and atopy in children. Eur Respir J. 1999, 14: 669-677. 10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.14c29.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  151. Holscher B, Heinrich J, Jacob B, Ritz B, Wichmann HE: Gas cooking, respiratory health and white blood cell counts in children. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2000, 203: 29-37. 10.1078/S1438-4639(04)70005-X.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  152. Dodge R, Solomon P, Moyers J, Hayes C: A longitudinal study of children exposed to sulfur oxides. Am J Epidemiol. 1985, 121: 720-736.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  153. Salameh PR, Baldi I, Brochard P, Raherison C, Abi SB, Salamon R: Respiratory symptoms in children and exposure to pesticides. Eur Respir J. 2003, 22: 507-512.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  154. Roemer W, Clench-Aas J, Englert N, Hoek G, Katsouyanni K, Pekkanen J, Brunekreef B: Inhomogeneity in response to air pollution in European children (PEACE project). Occup Environ Med. 1999, 56: 86-92.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  155. Khalifa N, von Knorring AL: Prevalence of tic disorders and Tourette syndrome in a Swedish school population. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003, 45: 315-319. 10.1017/S0012162203000598.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  156. McGarvey LP, Warke TJ, McNiff C, Heaney LG, MacMahon J: Psychogenic cough in a schoolboy: Evaluation using an ambulatory cough recorder. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003, 36: 73-75. 10.1002/ppul.10291.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  157. Butani L, O'Connell EJ: Functional respiratory disorders. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997, 79: 91-99.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  158. Anbar RD, Hall HR: Childhood habit cough treated with self-hypnosis. J Pediatr. 2004, 144: 213-217. 10.1016/j.jpeds.2003.10.041.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  159. Irwin RS, Corrao WM, Pratter MR: Chronic persistent cough in the adult: the spectrum and frequency of causes and successful outcome of specific therapy. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981, 123: 413-417.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  160. Morice AH: Epidemiology of cough. Cough: Causes, Mechanisms and Therapy. Edited by: Chung FK, Widdicombe JG, Boushey HA. 2003, London: Blackwell Science, 11-16.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  161. McKenzie S: Cough – but is it asthma?. Arch Dis Child. 1994, 70: 1-2.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  162. Henry RL: All that coughs is not asthma [editorial]. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999, 28: 1-2. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199907)28:1<1::AID-PPUL1>3.0.CO;2-X.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  163. British Guideline on the Management of Asthma. Thorax. 2003, 58: i1-i94i. 10.1136/thorax.58.suppl_1.1i.Google Scholar
  164. Todokoro M, Mochizuki H, Tokuyama K, Morikawa A: Childhood cough variant asthma and its relationship to classic asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2003, 90: 652-659.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  165. Powell CVE, Primhak RA: Stability of respiratory symptoms in unlabelled wheezy illness and nocturnal cough. Arch Dis Child. 1996, 75: 385-391.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  166. Wright AL, Holberg CJ, Morgan WJ, Taussig L, Halonen M, Martinez FD: Recurrent cough in childhood and its relation to asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996, 153: 1259-1265.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  167. Lewis HM: Cough – but is it asthma?. Arch Dis Child. 1994, 70: 554-PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  168. Wald ER, Byers C, Guerra N, Casselbrant M, Beste D: Subacute sinusitis in children. J Pediatr. 1989, 115: 28-32.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  169. Campanella SG, Asher MI: Current controversies: sinus disease and the lower airways. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001, 31: 165-172. 10.1002/1099-0496(200102)31:2<165::AID-PPUL1025>3.0.CO;2-O.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  170. Lombardi E, Stein RT, Wright AL, Morgan WJ, Martinez FD: The relation between physician-diagnosed sinusitis, asthma, and skin test reactivity to allergens in 8-year-old children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1996, 22: 141-146. 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0496(199609)22:3<141::AID-PPUL1>3.0.CO;2-S.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  171. Nishino T, Hasegawa R, Ide T, Isono S: Hypercapnia enhances the development of coughing during continuous infusion of water into the pharynx. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998, 157: 815-821.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  172. Widdicombe JG: Neurophysiology of the cough reflex. Eur Respir J. 1995, 8: 1193-1202. 10.1183/09031936.95.08071193.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  173. Turktas I, Dalgic N, Bostanci I, Cengizlier R: Extrathoracic airway responsiveness in children with asthma-like symptoms, including chronic persistent cough. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002, 34: 172-180. 10.1002/ppul.10077.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  174. Bucca C, Rolla G, Brussino L, De Rose V, Bugiani M: Are asthma-like symptoms due to bronchial or extrathoracic airway dysfunction?. Lancet. 1995, 346: 791-795. 10.1016/S0140-6736(95)91617-2.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  175. Rolla G, Colagrande P, Scappaticci E, Bottomicca F, Magnano M, Brussino L, Dutto L, Bucca C: Damage of the pharyngeal mucosa and hyperresponsiveness of airway in sinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997, 100: 52-57.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  176. Fireman P: Therapeutic approaches to allergic rhinitis: treating the child. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000, 105: S616-S621. 10.1067/mai.2000.106152.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  177. Morice AH: Epidemiology of cough. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2002, 15: 253-259. 10.1006/pupt.2002.0352.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  178. Habermann W, Kiesler K, Eherer A, Friedrich G: Short-term therapeutic trial of proton pump inhibitors in suspected extraesophageal reflux. J Voice. 2002, 16: 425-432. 10.1016/S0892-1997(02)00115-7.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  179. Poe RH, Kallay MC: Chronic cough and gastroesophageal reflux disease: experience with specific therapy for diagnosis and treatment. Chest. 2003, 123: 679-684. 10.1378/chest.123.3.679.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  180. Chang AB, Lasserson T, Gaffney J, Connor FC, Garske LA: Gastro-oesophageal reflux treatment for prolonged non-specific cough in children and adults (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library. 2005,Google Scholar
  181. Rudolph CD, Mazur LJ, Liptak GS, Baker RD, Boyle JT, Colletti RB, Gerson WT, Werlin SL: Guidelines for evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children: recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001, 32 (Suppl 2): S1-31. 10.1097/00005176-200100002-00001.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  182. Ours TM, Kavuru MS, Schilz RJ, Richter JE: A prospective evaluation of esophageal testing and a double-blind, randomized study of omeprazole in a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for chronic cough. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999, 94: 3131-3138. 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01504.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  183. Cucchiara S, Santamaria F, Minella R, Alfieri E, Scoppa A, Calabrese F, Franco MT, Rea B, Salvia G: Simultaneous prolonged recordings of proximal and distal intraesophageal pH in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease and respiratory symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol. 1995, 90: 1791-1796.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  184. Orenstein SR, Orenstein DM: Gastroesophageal reflux and respiratory disease in children. J Pediatr. 1988, 112: 847-858.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  185. Gastal OL, Castell JA, Castell DO: Frequency and site of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with chest symptoms. Studies using proximal and distal pH monitoring. Chest. 1994, 106: 1793-1796.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  186. Laukka MA, Cameron AJ, Schei AJ: Gastroesophageal reflux and chronic cough: which comes first?. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 1994, 19: 100-104.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  187. Yellon RF, Coticchia J, Dixit S: Esophageal biopsy for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux-associated otolaryngologic problems in children. Am J Med. 2000, 108 (Suppl 4a): 131S-138S. 10.1016/S0002-9343(99)00352-6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  188. Gilger MA: Pediatric otolaryngologic manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2003, 5: 247-252. 10.1159/000072144.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  189. Irwin RS, Madison JM: The Persistently Troublesome Cough. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002, 165: 1469-1474. 10.1164/rccm.2110097.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  190. Rudolph CD: Supraesophageal complications of gastroesophageal reflux in children: challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Am J Med. 2003, 115 (Suppl 3A): 150S-156S. 10.1016/S0002-9343(03)00214-6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  191. Gibson PG, Fujimura M, Niimi A: Eosinophilic Bronchitis: Clinical Manifestations and Implications for Treatment. Thorax. 2002, 57: 178-182. 10.1136/thorax.57.2.178.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  192. McGarvey L, Morice AH: Atopic cough: little evidence to support a new clinical entity. Thorax. 2003, 58: 736-737. 10.1136/thorax.58.8.736-a.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  193. Mertsola J, Ziegler T, Ruuskanen O, Vanto T, Koivikko A, Halonen P: Recurrent wheezy bronchitis and viral respiratory infections. Arch Dis Child. 1991, 66: 124-129.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  194. Clough JB, Holgate ST: Episodes of respiratory morbidity in children with cough and wheeze. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994, 150: 48-53.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  195. Clough JB, Williams JD, Holgate ST: Effect of atopy on the natural history of symptoms, peak expiratory flow, and bronchial responsiveness in 7- and 8-year-old children with cough and wheeze. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991, 143: 755-760.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  196. Peat JK, Salome CM, Woolcock AJ: Longitudinal changes in atopy during a 4-year period: relation to bronchial hyperesponsiveness and respiratory symptoms in a population sample of Australian schoolchildren. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1990, 85: 65-74. 10.1016/0091-6749(90)90223-Q.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  197. Niggemann B: Functional symptoms confused with allergic disorders in children and adolescents. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2002, 13: 312-318. 10.1034/j.1399-3038.2002.00095.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  198. Bianchetti MG, Caflisch M, Oetliker OH: Cough and converting enzyme inhibitors. Eur J Pediatr. 1992, 151: 225-226. 10.1007/BF01954391.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  199. von Vigier RO, Mozzettini S, Truttmann AC, Meregalli P, Ramelli GP, Bianchetti MG: Cough is common in children prescribed converting enzyme inhibitors. Nephron. 2000, 84: 98-10.1159/000045552.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  200. Rokicki W, Borowicka E: Use of converting angiotensin inhibitors in children. II. Personal experience with enalapril. Wiad Lek. 1997, 50: 85-93.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  201. Dubus JC, Mely L, Huiart L, Marguet C, Le Roux P: Cough after inhalation of corticosteroids delivered from spacer devices in children with asthma. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2003, 17: 627-631. 10.1046/j.1472-8206.2003.00191.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  202. Smyth MD, Tubbs RS, Bebin EM, Grabb PA, Blount JP: Complications of chronic vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy in children. J Neurosurg. 2003, 99: 500-503.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  203. Howaizi M, Delafosse C: Omeprazole-induced intractable cough. Ann Pharmacother. 2003, 37: 1607-1609. 10.1345/aph.1D185.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  204. Tekdemir I, Aslan A, Elhan A: A clinico-anatomic study of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and Arnold's ear-cough reflex. Surg Radiol Anat. 1998, 20: 253-257.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  205. Bloustine S, Langston L, Miller T: Ear-cough (Arnold's) reflex. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1976, 85: 406-407.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  206. Todisco T: The oto-respiratory reflex. Respiration. 1982, 43: 354-358.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  207. Sheehy JL, Lee S: Chronic cough due to cholesteatoma. A case report. Am J Otol. 1988, 9: 392-PubMedGoogle Scholar
  208. Raman R: Impacted ear wax – a cause for unexplained cough?. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986, 112: 679-Google Scholar
  209. Smith FM: Arnold's nerve reflex; a little known cause of cough in pediatric patients. J La State Med Soc. 1963, 115: 17-18.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  210. Jegoux F, Legent F, Beauvillain dM: Chronic cough and ear wax. Lancet. 2002, 360: 618-10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09786-6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  211. Evald T, Munch EP, Kok-Jensen A: Chronic non-asthmatic cough is not affected by inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate. A controlled double blind clinical trial. Allergy. 1989, 44: 510-514.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  212. Eccles R: The powerful placebo in cough studies?. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2002, 15: 303-308. 10.1006/pupt.2002.0364.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  213. Fitzmaurice DA: Written information for treating minor illness. BMJ. 2001, 322: 1193-1194. 10.1136/bmj.322.7296.1193.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  214. Taylor JA, Kwan-Gett TS, McMahon EM: Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Modifying Parental Attitudes About Antibiotic Usage in Children. Pediatrics. 2003, 111: e548-e554. 10.1542/peds.111.5.e548.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  215. Schroeder K, Fahey T: Should we advise parents to administer over the counter cough medicines for acute cough? Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Arch Dis Child. 2002, 86: 170-175. 10.1136/adc.86.3.170.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  216. Schroeder K, Fahey T: Over-the-counter medications for acute cough in children and adults in ambulatory settings. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2004, Art. No. CD001831.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub2, 4View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  217. Kelly LF: Pediatric cough and cold preparations. Pediatr Rev. 2004, 25: 115-123.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  218. Gunn VL, Taha SH, Liebelt EL, Serwint JR: Toxicity of over-the-counter cough and cold medications. Pediatrics. 2001, 108: E52-10.1542/peds.108.3.e52.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  219. Chien C, Marriott JL, Ashby K, Ozanne-Smith J: Unintentional ingestion of over the counter medications in children less than 5 years old. J Paediatr Child Health. 2003, 39: 264-269. 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00148.x.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  220. Pillay V, Swingler G: Symptomatic treatment of the cough in whooping cough. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003, Art. No.: CD003257. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003257, 4View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  221. Del Mar C, Glasziou P: Upper respiratory tract infection. Clinical Evidence. 2002, 8: 1583-1591.Google Scholar
  222. De Sutter AIM, Lemiengre M, Campbell H, Mackinnon HF: Antihistamines for the common cold. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003, Art. No.: CD001267. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001267, 3View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  223. van Asperen PP, McKay KO, Mellis CM, Loh RK, Harth SC, Thong YH, Harris M, Robertson IF, Gibbeson M, Rhodes L, et al: A multicentre randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study on the efficacy of Ketotifen in infants with chronic cough or wheeze. J Paediatr Child Health. 1992, 28: 442-446.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  224. Hestand HE, Teske DW: Diphenhydramine hydrochloride intoxication. J Pediatr. 1977, 90: 1017-1018.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  225. Paul IM, Yoder KE, Crowell KR, Shaffer ML, McMillan HS, Carlson LC, Dilworth DA, Berlin CM: Effect of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, and placebo on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Pediatrics. 2004, 114: e85-e90. 10.1542/peds.114.1.e85.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  226. Spelman R: Two-year follow up of the management of chronic or recurrent cough in children according to an asthma protocol. British Journal of General Practice. 1991, 41: 406-409.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
  227. Yahav Y, Katznelson D, Benzaray S: Persistent cough – a forme-fruste of asthma. Eur J Respir Dis. 1982, 63: 43-46.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  228. Smucny JJ, Flynn CA, Becker LA, Glazier RH: Are beta2-agonists effective treatment for acute bronchitis or acute cough in patients without underlying pulmonary disease? A systematic review. J Fam Pract. 2001, 50: 945-951.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  229. Chang AB, McKean M, Morris P: Inhaled anti-cholinergics for prolonged non-specific cough in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003, Art. No.: CD004358.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004358.pub2, 4View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  230. Oommen A, Lambert PC, Grigg J: Efficacy of a short course of parent-initiated oral prednisolone for viral wheeze in children aged 1–5 years: randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2003, 362: 1433-1438. 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14685-5.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  231. Pauwels RA, Pedersen S, Busse WW, Tan WC, Chen YZ, Ohlsson SV, Ullman A, Lamm CJ, O'Byrne PM: Early intervention with budesonide in mild persistent asthma: a randomised, double-blind trial. Lancet. 2003, 361: 1071-1076. 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12891-7.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  232. O'Byrne PM, Barnes PJ, Rodriguez-Roisin R, Runnerstrom E, Sandstrom T, Svensson K, Tattersfield A: Low dose inhaled budesonide and formoterol in mild persistent asthma: the OPTIMA randomized trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001, 164: 1392-1397.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  233. Parameswaran K, O'Byrne PM, Sears MR: Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma: common clinical quandaries. J Asthma. 2003, 40: 107-118. 10.1081/JAS-120017980.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  234. Allen DB, Bielory L, Derendorf H, Dluhy R, Colice GL, Szefler SJ: Inhaled corticosteroids: past lessons and future issues. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003, 112: S1-40. 10.1016/S0091-6749(03)01859-1.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  235. Macdessi JS, Randell TL, Donaghue KC, Ambler GR, van Asperen PP, Mellis CM: Adrenal crises in children treated with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids for asthma. Med J Aust. 2003, 178: 214-216.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  236. McFadden ER: Exertional Dyspnea and Cough as Preludes to Acute Attacks of Bronchial Asthma. N Engl J Med. 1975, 292: 555-558.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  237. Ek A, Palmberg L, Larsson K: The effect of fluticasone on the airway inflammatory response to organic dust. Eur Respir J. 2004, 24: 587-593. 10.1183/09031936.04.00018304.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  238. Creticos PS: Effects of nedocromil sodium on inflammation and symptoms in therapeutic studies. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 1996, 98: S143-9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  239. Hiller EJ, Milner AD, Lenney W: Nebulized sodium cromoglycate in young asthmatic children. Double-blind trial. Arch Dis Child. 1977, 52: 875-876.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  240. Yuksel B, Greenough A: The effect of sodium cromoglycate on upper and lower respiratory symptoms in children born prematurely. Eur J Pediatr. 1993, 152: 615-618. 10.1007/BF01954094.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  241. Chan PW, Debruyne JA: Inhaled nedocromil sodium for persistent cough in children. Med J Malaysia. 2001, 56: 408-413.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  242. Chang AB, Marchant JM, Morris P: Cromones for prolonged non-specific cough in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2004, Art. No.: CD004436.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004436.pub2, 1View ArticleGoogle Scholar
  243. Dicpinigaitis PV, Dobkin JB, Reichel J: Antitussive effect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast in subjects with cough-variant asthma. J Asthma. 2002, 39: 291-297. 10.1081/JAS-120002285.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  244. Chang AB, Halstead RA, Petsky HL: Methylxanthines for prolonged non-specific cough in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2005, 3:Google Scholar
  245. Cazzola M, Matera MG, Liccardi G, De Prisco F, D'Amato G, Rossi F: Theophylline in the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced cough. Respiration. 1993, 60: 212-215.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  246. Dowell SF, Schwartz B, Phillips WR: Appropriate use of antibiotics for URIs in children: Part I. Otitis media and acute sinusitis. The Pediatric URI Consensus Team. Am Fam Physician. 1998, 58: 1113-1123.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  247. Gottfarb P, Brauner A: Children with persistent cough–outcome with treatment and role of Moraxella catarrhalis?. Scand J Infect Dis. 1994, 26: 545-551.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  248. Darelid J, Lofgren S, Malmvall BE: Erythromycin treatment is beneficial for longstanding Moraxella catarrhalis associated cough in children. Scand J Infect Dis. 1993, 25: 323-329.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  249. Marchant JM, Morris P, Gaffney J, Chang AB: Antibiotics for prolonged moist cough in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2005,Google Scholar
  250. Brand PL, Duiverman EJ: Coughing and wheezing children: improvement after parents stop smoking. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1998, 142: 825-827.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  251. Hovell MF, Zakarian JM, Matt GE, Hofstetter CR, Bernert JT, Pirkle J: Effect of counselling mothers on their children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2000, 321: 337-342. 10.1136/bmj.321.7257.337.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  252. Cherry JD: The treatment of croup: continued controversy due to failure of recognition of historic, ecologic, etiologic and clinical perspectives. J Pediatr. 1979, 94: 352-354.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  253. Wamboldt MZ, Wamboldt FS: Psychiatric aspects of respiratory syndromes. Pediatric Respiratory Medicine. Edited by: Taussig LM, Landau LI. 1999, St. Louis: Mosby, Inc, 1222-1234.Google Scholar
  254. Weinberg EG: 'Honking': Psychogenic cough tic in children. S Afr Med J. 1980, 57: 198-200.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  255. Jenkinson D: Natural course of 500 consecutive cases of whooping cough: a general practice population study. BMJ. 1995, 310: 299-302.PubMed CentralPubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  256. Schaad UB, Rossi E: Infantile chlamydial pneumonia – a review based on 115 cases. Eur J Pediatr. 1982, 138: 105-109. 10.1007/BF00441134.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
  257. Kao NL, Richmond GW: Cough productive of casts. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1996, 76: 231-233.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar

Copyright

© Chang; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2005

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Advertisement