Uncommon causes of cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

Post-traumatic pulmonary embolism in the setting of cough-variant asthma

Post-traumatic pulmonary embolism (PE) poses diagnostic complexities, especially with underlying lung pathologies and delayed symptoms. We report a 43-year-old male who presented with cough, frothy sputum, and dyspnea following blunt chest trauma 2 weeks ago. Due to a history of asthma, an asthma exacerbation was suspected but he failed to respond to bronchodilator therapy. Doppler USG (ultrasonography) was negative for deep venous thrombi, however, elevated D-dimer levels prompted further investigation with computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), confirming the diagnosis of PE. Prompt initiation of anticoagulation and thrombolysis resulted in clinical improvement. This case underscores the need to rule out posttraumatic PE, irrespective of age, type of, or time since injury, and underlying lung disease, to ensure timely diagnosis and intervention.

Yardstick for managing cough, part 1: In adults and adolescent patients older than 14 years of age

Nationwide statistics in the United States and Australia reveal that cough of undifferentiated duration is the most common complaint for which patients of all ages seek medical care in the ambulatory setting. Management of chronic cough is one of the most common reasons for new patient visits to pulmonologists. Because symptomatic cough is such a common problem and so much has been learned about how to diagnose and treat cough of all durations but especially chronic cough, this 2-part yardstick has been written to review in a practical way the latest evidence-based guidelines most of which have been developed from recent high quality systematic reviews on how best to manage cough of all durations in adults, adolescents, and children. In this manuscript, part 1 of the 2-part series, we provide evidence-based, and expert opinion recommendations on the management of chronic cough in adult and adolescent patients (>14 years of age).

Chronic Cough in a 70-Year-Old Woman

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old lifelong nonsmoking woman with a past medical history of hypertension was referred to the respiratory clinic for evaluation of chronic cough. She presented with a 5-month history of dry cough, night sweats, fatigue, and a 4.5-kg weight loss. Her cough tended to be worse while lying flat. She denied having shortness of breath, chest pain, wheeze, or hemoptysis. She was taking amlodipine for her blood pressure as well as omeprazole for indigestion. She denied having any reflux symptoms or heartburn. She worked as a receptionist for an optician. She did not have any pets at home and had no family history of asthma or allergic conditions. She had not been abroad recently.

REVIEW SERIES: Chronic cough: Behaviour modification therapies for chronic cough

Chronic cough (CC) can be refractory to medical treatment and newer strategies are required for these patients. Behaviour modification therapies are a potential approach for management of cough that does not respond to medical management. Behaviour modification therapy for CC involves an individually tailored programme teaching individuals to increase control over cough symptoms and includes education, specific strategies to suppress the cough, vocal hygiene training and psychoeducational counselling. Several case series have described speech pathology treatment for CC and a recent randomized control trial has demonstrated a significant improvement in symptoms. Possible mechanisms for this improvement include reduced cough reflex sensitivity, increased voluntary control of the cough and reduced stimulation of cough receptors. Respiratory retraining used by physiotherapists may also have potential for use in CC. The validity of psychological therapeutic approaches to CC rests on concepts of CC as a disorder with a psychogenic component, and the ability of cognitive therapies to modify the cough pathway. This work outlines current literature into behavioural management of CC and suggests new directions for practice and research in adults with this condition. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2007; 4: 89—97

Cough: a worldwide problem

Cough is a common and important respiratory symptom that can produce significant complications for patients and be a diagnostic challenge for physicians. An organized approach to evaluating cough begins with classifying it as acute, subacute, or chronic in duration. Acute cough lasting less than 3 weeks may indicate an acute underlying cardiorespiratory disorder but is most commonly caused by a self-limited viral upper respiratory tract infection (eg, common cold). Subacute cough lasting 3 to 8 weeks commonly has a postinfectious origin; among the causes, Bordetella pertussis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis. Chronic cough lasts longer than 8 weeks. When a patient is a nonsmoker, is not taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and has a normal or near-normal chest radiograph, chronic cough is most commonly caused by upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis, or gastroesophageal reflux disease alone or in combination.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: an unusual presentation

A 24-year-old woman presented with chronic cough and noisy breathing. Chest x-ray revealed diffuse irregularity and narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Thorax computed tomography showed irregularity, stenosis, and areas of ossification throughout the trachea and both main bronchia. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed multiple nodules protruding into the tracheal lumen. Histopathology of the nodules confirmed the diagnosis of "tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica." Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare, benign disease that is characterized by multiple cartilaginous and osseous submucosal nodules protruding through tracheal lumen and large bronchia. The etiology is still unexplained.

Diagnosis and management of premature ventricular complexes-associated chronic cough

BACKGROUND

Chronic cough frequently remains unexplained. Although various cardiac arrhythmias have already been reported as a cause of chronic cough, this phenomenon has not been evaluated prospectively. Therefore, we studied the incidence and management of cough associated with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in a population of patients with this condition.

METHODS

Patients without organic heart disease who had been referred for the management of symptomatic PVC were evaluated prospectively. PVC-associated cough was recognized if cough episodes occurred just after spontaneous or induced PVC or observed in an ECG or a multichannel recording system that included ECG. A differential diagnosis of cough was performed according to the guidelines on cough. Afterward, antiarrhythmic therapy was instituted to eliminate PVC and cough.

RESULTS

Of the 120 patients who were referred for the management of PVC, 10 had a chronic cough. After extensive workup for the cause of chronic cough, the cough was thought to be solely due to PVC in one patient, partially due to PVC plus another cause in five patients, and not due to PVC but to nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis in four patients. Patients with PVC-associated cough reported more severe perception of symptoms associated with arrhythmia than patients without cough (mean [+/- SD] visual analog scale score, 8.2 +/- 0.5 vs 5.7 +/- 1.6, respectively; p < 0.01). PVC-associated cough disappeared after antiarrhythmic treatment (radiofrequency ablation [n = 4], oral antiarrhythmic agent [n = 1]), or after spontaneous remission of PVC (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

PVC may be a cause of chronic cough. Interdisciplinary cooperation is warranted for the proper diagnosis and management of PVC-associated cough.

The role of sensory dysfunction in the development of voice disorders, chronic cough and paradoxical vocal fold movement

Sensory function may be important in the pathogenesis of Chronic Cough (CC) and Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM). This paper aims to explore sensory issues related to the pathogenesis, classification, assessment and management of these conditions. Sensory disruption of the vagus nerve can occur through neural plasticity whereby a change occurs in the way a central neuron reacts to an incoming stimulus. Such disruption can be demonstrated through assessment of cough reflex sensitivity and extrathoracic airway hyperresponsiveness both of which may be increased in CC and PVFM. In addition, sensory function may be determined by measuring the laryngeal adductor reflex, however this phenomenon is yet to be explored in CC and PVFM. The similarity in sensory dysfunction between CC and PVFM provides support for a link between the two conditions. There are also similarities in underlying medical conditions and symptom profiles between CC/PVFM and voice disorders such as muscle tension dysphonia. Although coughing and throat clearing may be contributing factors in the development and maintenance of voice disorders, they may occur in response to extrathoracic airway hyperresponsiveness. Dysphonia can occur in CC/PVFM and may improve following behavioural treatment of CC.

The relationship between psychogenic cough and the diagnosis and misdiagnosis of asthma: a review

The differential diagnoses of persistent nonproductive cough include numerous pulmonary and nonpulmonary organic disorders as well as functional illnesses. Many diseases can cause cough, and several studies have shown asthma among the most common etiologies associated with chronic cough in adult nonsmokers, as well as children. Psychogenic cough and its relationship to asthma and other asthma-like illnesses is complex since distinct maladies with similar features may coexist individually or in combination in any given patient. While chronic cough may occur as a sole presenting manifestation of bronchial asthma in all age groups, recent findings suggest that most children with persistent cough without other respiratory symptoms do not have asthma. Since several organic, as well as functional diseases, may present with persistent cough as their sole manifestation in either adults or children, cough should not be used as a single or major determinant to diagnose and treat asthma, especially when empirically focused therapy trials fail. Given the range of illnesses causing cough, no single management guideline can be expected to be universally effective.

A review of voice and upper airway function in chronic cough and paradoxical vocal cord movement

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Chronic cough and paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) are perplexing conditions. This paper reviews the recent literature in relation to the nature of PVFM and chronic cough and the management of symptoms associated with these disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are similarities in the voice and upper airway symptoms in chronic cough and PVFM. Clinically significant voice symptoms are present in approximately 40% of individuals with chronic cough and PVFM and are similar to those occurring in voice disorders such as muscle tension dysphonia. Chronic cough can be associated with PVFM in a large proportion of cases. Extrathoracic airway hyperresponsiveness is a common underlying mechanism in PVFM and chronic cough. Speech pathology intervention can be effective in controlling symptoms in chronic cough, which suggests that the anatomic diagnostic protocol could be expanded to incorporate this intervention. Chronic cough that fails to respond to medical management should be conceptualized as either due to PVFM or idiopathic. PVFM and chronic cough are not necessarily the result of underlying psychopathology.

SUMMARY

Chronic cough and PVFM manifest in a range of clinically significant voice and upper airway symptoms. The anatomic diagnostic protocol used in the management of chronic cough could be expanded to include PVFM as a potential cause of cough, and speech pathology intervention as treatment for chronic cough.