Transbronchial cryobiopsy, updated guidelines for chronic cough in children, PD-1 inhibition
Pediatric Chest Medicine
Chronic cough in children: New guidelines
A chronic cough is a common complaint among children whose parents seek medical evaluation. Chronic wet cough can indicate an underlying illness; therefore, an early diagnosis can lead to prevention of complications of the disease and improvement in quality of life.
CHEST is a leading resource in evidence and consensus-based guidelines on important topics affecting children. The most recent guidelines entitled Management of Children with Chronic Wet Cough and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (Chest. 2017;151(4):884-890) and Use of Management Pathways or Algorithms in Children with Chronic Cough (Chest. 2017;151(4):875-873) are updates from the 2006 CHEST guidelines on chronic cough in children.
The present updates utilized the CHEST methodological guidelines with chronic wet or productive cough and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework and also performed a systematic review addressing key questions concerning the management of childhood disease for children 14 years and younger.
Guidance provided by the expert panel focused on recommendations to answer six key questions concerning the management of children 14 years and younger with a chronic wet cough unrelated to established chronic lung disease. The recommendations are:
1. Chronic cough is defined as the presence of a cough 4 weeks or longer in duration.
2. Assessment of the effect of the cough on the child and the family be undertaken as part of clinical consultation.
3. Evaluation of a chronic cough should be done with a systematic approach with pediatric-specific cough management protocols or algorithms.
4. Chest radiograph and, when age appropriate, spirometry with bronchodilator be undertaken as evaluation; tests for pertussis infection only to be performed if clinically suspected.
5. Chronic wet cough with no specific clinical features should receive antibiotics for 2 weeks targeted for common respiratory bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis).
6. When cough persists despite 2 weeks of appropriate antibiotics, it is recommended to continue for an additional 2 weeks.
7. Additional tests (eg skin prick test, Mantoux, bronchoscopy, chest CT scan) should be individualized in accordance with the clinical setting and child’s clinical symptoms and signs.
The panel recognizes the need for prospective studies to assess current algorithms outcomes of children with chronic cough. Both articles can be found on the guidelines section of the CHEST site.
John Bishara, DO
Fellow-in-Training Member
