title: Advances in upper airway cough syndrome.
abstract: Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS), previously referred to as postnasal drip syndrome, is one of the most common causes of chronic cough. However, the pathogenesis of UACS/postnasal drip syndrome remains unclear, and physicians in countries throughout the world have different definitions and ways of treating this disease. The various proposed pathogeneses of UACS include the early postnasal drip theory, subsequent chronic airway inflammation theory, and a recent sensory neural hypersensitivity theory. Additionally, some researchers suggest that UACS is a clinical phenotype of cough hypersensitivity syndrome. While the general principles involved in treating UACS are similar throughout the world, the specific details of treatment differ. This review summarizes the various definitions, pathogenic mechanisms, treatments, and other aspects of UACS, to aid clinicians in expanding their knowledge of how to diagnose and treat this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xianghuai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hanjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 96778@tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Airway inflammation; Atopic cough; Cough hypersensitivity syndrome; Sinobronchial syndrome; Upper airway cough syndrome