Chronic cough is a common disorder that affects an estimated 10% of the general population [1]. Adverse symptoms such as urinary incontinence, chest pains, headaches and syncope are frequently associated with cough and lead to poor health-related quality of life [2, 3]. Chronic cough has long been viewed as a symptom of other chronic disorders, hence the current approach to assessing and treati...

Airway neuropeptides, in particular calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), are likely to be important in the pathogenesis of chronic cough. The present authors evaluated the following: 1) the relationship between cough sensitivity and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neuropeptides; and 2) the effect of reflux oesophagitis (RO) on cough, cough sensitivity and BAL neuropeptides in children not selec...

❏ Diagnostic algorithm for patients with chronic productive cough outlined. A chronic 'productive' or 'wet' cough is a common presenting complaint for patients attending the adult respiratory clinic. Most reviews and guidelines suggest that the causes of a productive cough are the same as those of a non-productive cough and as such the same diagnostic pathway should be followed. Although it see...

Cough is one of the most common complaints for which patients seek medical attention. Misdiagnosis and mistreatment of cough exist commonly in China. The prevalence of acute cough caused by upper airway infection fluctuates between 9% and 64% in the community, for chronic cough, the prevalence >10% in most surveys, ranging from 7.2%-33%. The common causes of chronic cough are upper airway cough...

Cough is an intrinsic protective reflex. However, chronic cough affects a considerable proportion of general population and has a major impact on quality of life. A recent paradigm shift to 'cough hypersensitivity syndrome' suggests that chronic cough arises from hypersensitivity of the airway sensory nerves. As cough reflex is determined by interaction of the nervous system with immune system,...

BACKGROUND The mechanisms of chronic cough are unclear. Many reactive oxygen species affect airway sensory C-fibres which are capable to induce cough. Several chronic lung diseases are characterised by cough and oxidative stress. In asthma, an association between the cough severity and airway oxidative stress has been demonstrated. The present study was conducted to investigate whether airway o...

Air pollution remains a leading cause of many respiratory diseases including chronic cough. Although episodes of incidental, dramatic air pollution are relatively rare, current levels of exposure of pollutants in industrialized and developing countries such as total articles, diesel exhaust particles and common cigarette smoke may be responsible for the development of chronic cough both in chil...

Chronic cough is a significant medical condition with high prevalence and a strong negative impact on the quality of life. Cough hypersensitivity is thought to underlie chronic cough, with several environmental and host factors interacting to cause neuronal sensitization and chronicity. Comorbid conditions affecting cough reflex pathways, such as upper airway diseases, asthma, and gastroesophag...

Cough lasting more than 8 weeks is considered chronic. If the classic causes of chronic cough have been discarded, vagus nerve sensory disturbances are currently considered the most important etiological cause. Patients with chronic cough of laryngeal origin have associated symptoms such as globus, dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnoea and/or stridor. These patients are more likely to have paradoxical...