title: Update on Pediatric Cough.
abstract: Despite the high prevalence of cough in children, the topic has been poorly researched. Although pediatricians recognize that chronic cough in children is different from that in adults, this difference seems less recognizable to other health professionals. During childhood, the respiratory tract and nervous system undergo a series of anatomical and physiological maturation processes that influence the cough reflex. Additionally, immunological responses undergo developmental and memorial processes that make infection and congenital abnormalities the overwhelming cause of cough in children. The lack of comprehensive clinical data regarding chronic cough in children has initially required pediatricians to adopt an adult approach to the problem. In the last 10 years, however, research has led to the reconsideration of the etiology of chronic cough in children. Currently, attention has focused on protracted bacterial bronchitis as a major cause of chronic cough in preschool-aged children and as a possible precursor of bronchiectasis. New research horizons are emerging for both the treatment and prevention of particular causes of chronic cough in children.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Asthma and Cough Centre, Istituti Ospedalieri Bergamaschi, University and Research Hospitals, via Forlanini 15, Ponte San Pietro-Bergamo, 24036, Bergamo, Italy. kantar@centropediatricotosse.com.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kantar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Children; Chronic cough; Cough etiology; Protracted bacterial bronchitis