Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in the differential diagnosis of chronic cough.
Patients presenting with chronic coughs are seen frequently by allergists/immunologists. When the usual diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers do not control symptoms, it is worthwhile to consider whether a non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection might be playing a role in the pathogenesis of the coughing. Sputum culture should be considered along with a pulmonary computerized axial tomography scan. NTM infection should be added to the differential diagnosis list for patients with chronic coughs unresponsive to conventional therapy.
Finegold
Ira
I
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York 10022, USA. drfinegold@aol.com
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure
D007136:Immunoglobulins