Chronic cough is a symptom frequently encountered by the pediatrician. Although most coughs are self-limited, chronic cough often proves to be a frustrating problem.
This study was performed at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1992, and 83 children with chronic cough persisting for longer than 3 weeks was evaluated.
We categorized these patients into 5 age groups (1. Infant: uner 12 months of age, 2. Toddler: above age 1~below age 3, 3. Preschool: above age 3~below age 6,4. School: above age 6~below age 6~below age 12, 5. Adolecent: above age 12).
The most common cause of chronic cough was the reactive airway disease (71.1%) such as asthma with or without sinusitis (56.6%) and bronchiolitis-reactive (14.5%). In infant age group, the most frequent causes of chronic cough were reactive
airway
disease(52.4%)such as bronchiolitis-reactive (28.6%) and infantile asthma (23.8%). The second and third common causes were congenital anomalies(23.8%) and bronchiolitis-nonreactive (23.8%). In toddler age, the most common cause was the reactive
airway
disease such as infantile asthma (10 cases: 50%) and bronchiolitis reactive (6cases; 30%) and congenital anomalies were the second common causes of chronic cough. In preschool, school and adolescent age group, asthma and sinusitis were the main
causes
of chronic cough. In the groups above age 3,73.2% of chronic cough were associated with sinusitis.
Therefore, in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of chronic cough, it should be considered that the cause of cough is either reactive airway disease with or without sinusitis or not. In infant and toddler age, congenital anomaly should be
considered.
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