WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PERSISTENT COUGH

Very quickly we would be sharing on this platform our clinical presentation and differential diagnosis on persistent cough, having taken our time to interview various health practitioners on what this disease entails.

A cough in its real sense is not an illness but a sign for which a cause should be checked out for. "The health term persistent cough" is synonymous with "chronic cough" and it is chronic if it is on for 3weeks or more than. Some other practitioners interchange the term persistent cough with "bronchitis complex" most especially in infants, children precisely, knowing fully well that there are many other etiologies other than bronchitis which may also give rise to chronic coughing.

Note, there is a huge difference between chronic cough and recurrent cough, but many struggle to know the difference, obviously there is much difference between them. More light would be shared as we proceed.

Coughing is also a mechanism for removing foreign matter from respiratory tract and to clear secretions from the tracts as a result of formal and informal exposure to causative factors. Once this fact is established then parents can understand that a cough doesn't necessarily require an immediate suppression accept if it excessive, just to cub the abuse of drug.

Most children with persistent cough appear healthy, in fact some are without feverish conditions, tachypnea. The most common causes of persistent cough are

1. Viral Bronchitis and
2. Hyperactive airway disease (I.e., asthma or asthma-variant).
3. Reactive airway disease
4. Physical irritants (smoking)
5. Foreign body aspiration
6. Congenitinal abnormalities
7. Postinfectious ( bronchiolistis)
8. Chronic upper airway disease
9. Psychogenic
10. Suppurative lung disease

And for the above listed causes of persistent cough there is no age predilection. Also for recurrent cough the upper respiratory tract infection is the most common cause, And may also give rise to asthmatic attacks.

PERSISTENT COUGH IN INFANTS



An infant with a persistent cough can most likely develop a congenital malformation such as cysts, vascular rings, fistula. For an infant if the cough has gone for the first week of his or her life a "perinatal infection must be considered. Chlamydial pneumonia with its characteristic staccato occurs in young infant. Also bronchiolitis is another infant disease to watch out for. In conclusions on persistent cough in infants, chemical irritation of the lungs may result from overfeeding and dyskinetic swallowing. And also a child whose cough results from congestive heart failure shouldn't be difficult to recognize.

GENERAL REVIEW ON PERSISTENT COUGH

We would be talking briefly on clues to etiology of persistent cough.

If the cough is non productive, you can always think of reactive airway disease, bronchitis and irritants.

If the cough is productive purulent, you can always think of bronchiectasis.

If the cough is productive clear and white, you can always think of asthma.

If the cough is blood streaked you can always think of tuberculosis, hemosiderosis.

If the cough is absent with sleep, you can always think of psychogenic.

If the cough is paroxysm, you think of foreign body, pertussis, chlamydia.

If the cough us with exposure to cold, exercises, wheezing, excitement/laughing, you can think of asthma.

If the cough is Nocturnal, you can think of postnasal drip, GE reflux.

If the cough is with failure to thrive/malabsorption, you think of pertussis.

HEALTH TIPS ON PERSISTENT COUGH.

For persistent cough, treatment is based on the diagnosis or diagnostic probabilities revealed from subsequent check ups. Often times, simple recommendations such as home air humidification, keeping the throat moist, or eliminating cigarette smoking at home eliminate cough.

A chronic dry, irritative cough, especially if it keeps the child or family awake at high, exhausts the child, or is socially disruptive, or may be suppressed by codeine or dextromethorphan. Coedine is more effective, but draw backs include its addiction potential and respiratory depression. It should "never" be given to young infants. Dextromethorphan is considered a safer medication for infants. for proper dosage it is advisable to see a doctor.

Note that a purulent cough should never be suppressed because the cough reflex is valuable in protecting the lungs. Other productive cough constitute relative contraindications for prescribing antitussive medications. For a child it is axiomatic to be well hydrated but over hydration should be avoided because it may compromise pulmonary function.

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