title: Chronic/recurrent cough in rural children in Ludhiana, Punjab.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 001, India. dmchldh@glide.net.in
authors.forename: Daljit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Praveen C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sobti
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution