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1. CHRONIC COUGH William A. Curry, MD
UAB GIM Noon Conference
April 27, 2010
Today’s speaker has no conflict of interest to disclose.
The University of Alabama School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
UAB School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit (s) Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
4. COUGH: CATEGORIES ACUTE: less than three weeks
SUBACUTE: three to eight weeks
CHRONIC: more than eight weeks
5. COUGH: CATEGORIES ACUTE: less than three weeks
SUBACUTE: three to eight weeks
CHRONIC: more than eight weeks
10. Complications of Cough
14. CAUSES OF CHRONIC COUGH Upper Airway Cough Syndrome
Asthma
GERD
15. CAUSES OF CHRONIC COUGH Upper Airway Cough Syndrome
Asthma
GERD
16. CAUSES OF CHRONIC COUGH Upper Airway Cough Syndrome
Asthma
GERD
Post-infectious
Meds (ACEI esp.)
17. CAUSES OF CHRONIC COUGH Upper Airway Cough Syndrome
Asthma
GERD
Post-infectious
Meds (ACEI esp.)
Airway Diseases (bronchitis, bronchiectasis,neoplasm, foreign body)
Pareynchymal Disease (ILD, lung abascess)
Others
18. CAUSES OF CHRONIC COUGH Upper Airway Cough Syndrome
Asthma
GERD
Post-infectious
Meds (ACEI esp.)
Airway Diseases (bronchitis, bronchiectasis,neoplasm, foreign body)
Pareynchymal Disease (ILD, lung abascess)
Others
20. UPPER AIRWAY COUGH SYNDROME (Postnasal Drip) Common cause of subacute and chronic cough
Etiologies
Rhinitis: allergic, perennial nonallergic, vasomotor
URI
Sinusitis
Symptoms
Classic: sensation of drip, frequent throat clearing
Silent
21. UPPER AIRWAY COUGH SYNDROME (Postnasal Drip) Treatment
Intranasal steroids: work in 2-14 d
Allergic Rhinitis: most effective
Nonallergic Rhinitis w/Eo’s (NARES)
Vasomotor Rhinitis
22. UPPER AIRWAY COUGH SYNDROME (Postnasal Drip) Treatment
Intranasal steroids: work in 2-14 d
Allergic Rhinitis: most effective
Nonallergic Rhinitis w/Eo’s (NARES)
Vasomotor Rhinitis
Antihistamines
First generation more effective but more sedating (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine)
Second generation (ceterizine, fexofenadine, loratadine)
23. UPPER AIRWAY COUGH SYNDROME (Postnasal Drip) Treatment
Intranasal steroids: work in 2-14 d
Allergic Rhinitis: most effective
Nonallergic Rhinitis w/Eo’s (NARES)
Vasomotor Rhinitis
Antihistamines
First generation more effective but more sedating (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine)
Second generation (ceterizine, fexofenadine, loratadine)
Others: decongenstant, leukotriene antagonist
24. “COUGH VARIANT” ASTHMA May be aggravated by cold, fumes.
May be associated with dyspnea.
25. “COUGH VARIANT” ASTHMA May be aggravated by cold, fumes.
May be associated with dyspnea.
Spirometry
May show classic airflow obstruction (beware false +).
May be normal.
26. “COUGH VARIANT” ASTHMA May be aggravated by cold, fumes.
May be associated with dyspnea.
Spirometry
May show classic airflow obstruction (beware false +).
May be normal.
Methacholine Challenge Test
May be helpful, but up to 22% false positive.
27. “COUGH VARIANT” ASTHMA May be aggravated by cold, fumes.
May be associated with dyspnea.
Spirometry
May show classic airflow obstruction (beware false +).
May be normal.
Methacholine Challenge Test
May be helpful, but up to 22% false positive.
Best dx is response to inhaled Beta agonist w/in one wk, but trial of LTRA or glucocorticoid may be warranted.
28. COUGH DUE TO REFLUX: Dx GERD
Up to 40% may lack heartburn or sour taste
Hoarseness common, also “globus pharyngeus”
Barium swallow, EGD limited sensitivity/specificity
24 esophageal pH monitoring is optimal, 90% sens but rarely needed.
Motility often abnormal but role of testing unclear.
LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX
35% have heartburn
Worse upright during exertion, stooping (UES problem)
29. COUGH DUE TO REFLUX: Rx LIFESTYLE
Weight loss, smoking cessation
Elevation of head of bed 3-4 inches
Avoid reflux-inducers: fat, chocolate, EtOH xs
Avoid acidic: colas, red wine, OJ
No food w/in 3 hrs of lying down
ACID SUPPRESSION
PPI 8 Wks, if no better consider pH monitoring
PROKINETICS: weak data, extrapyramidal AE
SURGERY: Nissen fundoplication 83% effective in one small study.
30. COUGH AFTER INFECTION Etiologies
Viral, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia
Bordatella pertusssis: under-appreciated
21% of 75 adults w/ cough > 2 wks JAMA 1995; 273:1044
AB (emycin,t/s) effective only early
Counsel re exposing young children.
Rx
Inhaled beta agonist
Inhaled ipratropium ( + small trial) Respir Med 1992;86:425
32. COUGH: Less Common Causes ACE Inhibitors
Up to 15% of those taking, probably from bradykinin
Usually starts w/in one wk of Rx but can be 6 mo
Usually resolves in 1-4 days after d/c, up to 4 w
No more frequent in pts with asthma, no obstruction
Bronchiectasis
Typically productive cough
Consider CF, previous pertussis, other infections
33. COUGH: Less Common Causes Lung CA
New or changing cough in smoker
Cough persisting > 1 mo after smoking cessation
Hemoptysis w/out airway infection
Nonasthmatic Eosinophilic Bronchitis
Tend to be atopic, + sputum eo’s
No PFT obstruction (like variant asthma)
Definitive Dx by bronchial bx, but presumptive by trial of inhaled corticosteroid
35. BEFORE DOING…. Sputum studies
Modified BA swallow
24 hr. esophageal pH monitoring
EGD
Gastric emptying study
HRCT of chest
Bronchoscopy
MIBI
TTE
36. BEFORE DOING… Sputum studies
Modified BA swallow
24 hr. esophageal pH monitoring
EGD
Gastric emptying study
HRCT of chest
Bronchoscopy
MIBI
TTE
37. Common Pitfalls in Chronic Cough UPPER AIRWAY COUGH SYNDROME
Failing to recognize sx can be cough and phlegm.
Assuming all H1 blockers are equal.
Failing to consider sinusitis if not obvious.
Failing to consider allergic rhinitis if sx perennial.
ASTHMA
Failing to recognize sx can be cough and phlegm
Failing to recognize inhaled meds can exacerbate cough.
Assuming + methacholine challenge = dx of asthma.
38. Common Pitfalls in Chronic Cough GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
Failing to recognize sx can be cough and phlegm.
Failing to recognize “silent” GERD
Failing to appreciate that sx may not improve for 2-3 mo even with intensive Rx and can last 5-6 mo.
Assuming GERD not the cause if cough persists despite GERD sx improving.
Overlooking effects of coexisting diseases (OSA, CAD)
COMBINED UACS, ASTHMA, and GERD
Overlooking that more than one may be involved.
Overlooking one of these b/o another possible cause (e.g., interstitial pneumonia) (= “anchoring”)
39. COUGH: Symptomatic Rx Centrally acting
Dextromethorphan: may be more effective than codeine; use enough (20-60 mg in adults)
Codeine: typically 30 mg, more adverse events
Peripherally acting
Benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) 100-200 mg tid
Anesthetizes (?) stretch receptors of lungs and pleura
Guaifenesin (Mucinex, Robitussin) increases secretions
Need to give enough (Mucinex = 600 mg, Robitussin = 100 mg/5cc)
Works well combined with dextromethorphan, maybe benzonatate
Inhaled steroids: conflicting results for nonspecific
Inhaled ipratropium: for post-infectious, ? nonspecific
40. CHRONIC COUGH: SUMMARY Careful history including:
ACEI, recent URI
Coexisting asthma, drip, GERD, bronchitis, bronchiectasis
Targeted exam
CXR if > 8 wks
Thoughtful therapeutic trials for UACS, asthma, GERD, post-infectious
Other eval as indicated
41. CHRONIC COUGH: SUMMARY Careful history including:
ACEI, recent URI
Coexisting asthma, drip, GERD, bronchitis, bronchiectasis
Targeted exam
CXR if > 8 wks
Thoughtful therapeutic trials for UACS, asthma, GERD, post-infectious
Other eval as indicated