Chronic cough in children

Abstract

A chronic cough in children is defined in the British Thoracic Society guidelines as a cough of 8 weeks or more. The aetiology of a chronic cough in children differs from adult populations, due to decreased cough reflex control in children, differences in airway anatomy and physiology, and immunological and neurological maturation changes. The three most common causes of chronic cough in adults (asthma, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and upper airway cough syndrome) account for less than 10% of the causes in children. Thus, it is important to assess and manage chronic cough in children differently.