title: [Chronic persistent cough in general practice: diagnosis and therapy in 329 patients over the course of 2 years].
abstract: Chronic Cough: Chronic persistent cough (CPC) lasting from several months to years - without radiographic or spirometric evidence of its cause - was a surprisingly frequent reason (5,7% of all new referrals) to consult our practice. Sophisticated diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic regimen are necessary. We performed a prospective study on 329 consecutive patients (106 male, 223 female) over a two-year period. 65% of the patients had cough as a consequence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness; 27% due to upper airways disease, i.e. often very common rhinitis or pharyngitis; 14% chronic bronchitis; 5% gastrooesophageal reflux (GER); 3% drug induced cough; 4% other causes. 10% of the patients discontinued the diagnostic evaluation prematurely. In 14% the cause for CPC remained unclear and no relief could be achieved. Furthermore, there is a need for consecutive studies to address the following questions: 1. The cause of the striking difference in gender (male : female = 1 : 2) remains unclear. 2. Wether a cough recorder - as occasionally reported in the literature - is needed for an objective evaluation of cough [9]. 3. A standardised methodology of 24 h pH monitoring for the diagnosis of CPC as a consequence of GER has yet to be established.
authors.affiliation: Gemeinschaftspraxis und Pneumologische Belegabteilung Maingau-Krankenhaus, Frankfurt/Main.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kardos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
vernacular_title: Chronisch persistierender Husten (CPH) in der Praxis: Diagnostik und Therapie bei 329 Patienten in 2 Jahren.