Chronic/recurrent cough in rural children in Ludhiana, Punjab.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, age distribution and common causes of chronic/recurrent cough in rural children.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Pediatric population in five villages of Dehlon Block of Ludhiana, Punjab.


METHODS
2275 children in the age group of 1 to 15 years were screened by house to house survey for chronic/recurrent cough using defined criteria. A detailed work up of selected cases was carried out. Underlying etiology was determined using clinical and laboratory parameters. Five hundred children in the study population formed the control group. Variables associated with chronic/recurrent cough were analyzed in cases and controls.


RESULTS
Twenty four children were diagnosed with chronic/recurrent cough showing a prevalence rate of 1.06 percent. The most common cause was bronchial asthma (66.7 percent) followed by postnasal drip syndrome (25 percent). Family history of allergy/asthma was noted in 11 (45.8 percent) children as compared to 52 (10.4 percent) in the control group (p < 0.01). Family history of smoking was recorded in 16.7 percent of cases in contrast to 6.4 percent in controls (p = 0.05). There was no significant association with overcrowding, pets and kind of cooking fuel used.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common cause of chronic/recurrent cough was bronchial asthma. There was a significant association with family history of allergy/asthma and smoking.
Singh
Daljit
D
Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 001, India. dmchldh@glide.net.in
Arora
Vineet
V
Sobti
Praveen C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution