OBJECTIVE To investigate the changing patterns of the spectrum and frequency of causes for chronic cough, and to explore its clinical implications. METHODS Nine hundred and forty patients consecutively referred to Department of Respiratory Medicine for evaluation of chronic cough between January 2004 and December 2008 were collected and divided into 5 groups by periods of 5 years. The causes ...

The diagnostic dilemma Chronic cough is somewhat arbitrarily defined as any cough with a duration of eight weeks. It is common in primary care. In one postal survey of 11 000 patients registered with four general practices, 14% of men and 10% of women reported coughing on more than half the days in the year. In practice, smokers rarely consult about their cough because they assume (usually corr...

OBJECTIVE To review the literature on postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS)-induced cough and the various causes of PNDS. Hereafter, PNDS will be referred to as upper airway cough syndrome (UACS). METHODS MEDLINE search (through May 2004) for studies published in the English language since 1980 on human subjects using the medical subject heading terms "cough," "causes of cough," "etiology of cough,"...

Nasal polyp is a benign lesion that arises from the mucosa of the nasal sinuses or from the mucosa of the nasal cavity as a macroscopic edematous mass. The exact etiology is still unknown and controversial, but it is assumed that main causes are inflammatory conditions and allergy. It is more common in allergic patients with asthma. Interleukin-5 has found to be significantly raised in nasal po...

"Nonallergic rhinopathy" was defined by consensus at a Roundtable conference in December 2008 as "a chronic nasal condition with symptoms that may be perennial, persistent, intermittent or seasonal and/or elicited by recognized triggers." The definition includes a well-recognized set of clinical exposures that lead to the symptoms, predominantly congestion, rhinorrhea, and postnasal drip. These...

Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, 2-week treatment study evaluated FFNS 110 mcg once daily, twice daily vs. placebo in adults/ adolescents with uncomplicated ARS. Eligibility criteria reflected a clinical diagnosis and eliminated confounding conditions like common cold, symptomatic allergic rhinitis (AR), and other sinonasal conditions. Subj...

OBJECTIVE To assess the presentation of allergic fungal sinusitis and describe the line of management in our setup. DESIGN Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Study was conducted in Otorhinolaryngology Department, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to January 2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS Culture and sensitivity / fungal stain proven 20 cases of all...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether intranasal corticosteroids are superior to oral H1 receptor antagonists (antihistamines) in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. DESIGN Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing intranasal corticosteroids with oral antihistamines. SETTING Randomised controlled trials conducted worldwide and published between 1966 and 1997. SUBJECTS 2267 subjects...