title: Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea for chronic cough in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a disorder that is characterised by repeated episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction (UAO) during sleep that result in disruption of normal ventilation and sleep patterns. Chronic cough in children is a significant medical problem and in some situations warrants thorough investigation. There may be an association between chronic cough and OSA as suggested in adult studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of treatment of OSA leading to the resolution of cough in the management of children with chronic cough.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE and EMBASE. The latest search was performed in September 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomised controlled trials comparing an intervention for OSA to a control group (placebo or usual treatment) in children with chronic cough.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the search results against the pre-determined criteria for inclusion. Two review authors independently selected the studies. No eligible trials were identified and thus no data were available for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no randomised controlled trials that examined the efficacy of treatment of OSA in the management of children with chronic cough.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is currently no evidence that therapies directed for OSA are useful for the management of chronic cough in children. Until further evidence is available, OSA should be managed on its own merits and the presence or absence of cough should not be used as a decision trigger. Further research examining the effects of this intervention is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2606.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurwitz
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Acworth
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Asperen
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*