title: Cough in children.
abstract: Cough during childhood is very common, and is one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in daily pediatric practice. The causes differ from those in adults, and specific pediatric guidelines should be followed for correct diagnosis and treatment. The most common cause of cough in children is viral infection producing "normal cough", but all children with persistent cough, i.e. a cough lasting more than 4-8weeks or "chronic cough", must be carefully evaluated in other to rule out specific causes that may include the entire pediatric pulmonology spectrum. The treatment of cough should be based on the etiology. Around 80% of cases can be diagnosed using an optimal approach, and treatment will be effective in 90% of them. In some cases of "nonspecific chronic cough", in which no underlying condition can be found, empirical treatment based on the cough characteristics may be useful. There is no scientific evidence to justify the use of over-the-counter cough remedies (anti-tussives, mucolytics and/or antihistamines), as they could have potentially serious side effects, and thus should not be prescribed in children.
authors: Sección de Neumología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España; Unidad de Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España; Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España. Electronic address: adelaida.lamas@salud.madrid.org.
authors: Adelaida
authors: A
authors: Lamas
authors: Sección de Neumología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España; Unidad de Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España; Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Ruiz de Valbuena
authors: Unidad de Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España; Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Máiz
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
keywords: Asma; Asthma; Bronquitis bacteriana persistente; Children; Cough; Gastrooesophageal reflux; Niños; Protracted bacterial bronchitis; Reflujo gastroesofágico; Tos