• Müsemma Karabel, Selvi Kelekçi, Duran Karabel, and Mehmet Fuat Gürkan.
• School of Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
• Clin Respir J. 2014 Apr 1; 8 (2): 152-9.

IntroductionIn children, coughs lasting longer than 4 weeks are considered to be chronic, with etiological factors varying widely.ObjectiveThis study included children with chronic cough who were followed for 1 year. All cases were evaluated with the guidance of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), and etiological factors were analyzed.MethodsThe study included 270 children between the ages of 2 months and 14 years. Their presenting symptoms, physical examination findings and laboratory data were recorded. All patients underwent laboratory tests including direct chest X-ray and spirometric measurements. Several patients required additional advanced examinations such as a sweat test, determination of immunoglobulin levels and bronchoscopy. Patients were reevaluated according to ACCP recommendations, and etiological factors were investigated.ResultsThe total of 270 patients were included in the study included 43.3% (n=153) females with a mean age of 6.5 ± 2.3 years (7 months to 17 years). After a 1-year follow-up of patients, we determined that the most common etiologic factors were asthma (27%), asthma-like syndrome (15.5%) and gastroesophageal reflux (10%). Other etiological factors included upper airway cough syndrome and protracted bronchitis, respectively.ConclusionThe use of a standardized clinical approach such as the ACCP increases the possibility for fast and accurate diagnosis during the treatment of children with chronic cough, and the use of these guidelines should be required.© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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