JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

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Original Article
Characteristics of pediatric patients with chronic cough: data from a pediatric immunology and allergy outpatient clinic
Abstract
Aims: Chronic cough is a common complaint in childhood. A differential diagnosis is very important in children with a chronic cough. We aimed to investigate the etiology and underlying risk factors of chronic cough in children.
Methods: Patients aged 1-18 years who were referred to Sincan Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Outpatient Clinic were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory features of patients were recorded.
Results: The study included 403 children with a median age of 8 years (IQR 6-12) (53% males). 30% of patients had allergic rhinitis (AR), 4.7% of patients had atopic dermatitis (AD), and 2% patients had food allergy (FA) history. 78(19.3%) patients also complained of dyspnea and 9 (2.2%) patients had a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. 245 (60.8%) asthma-wheezy infant, 107 (26.6%) post-infectious cough, 36 (9%) postnasal drip syndrome, 9 (2.2%) gastroesophageal reflux and 6 (1.5%) psychogenic cough were detected in the whole group. The number of patients with accompanying dyspnea 76 (28.5%) and familial history of atopy 113 (42.3%) were higher in the asthma-wheezy infant group than others group (p<0.001 vs. p<0.001). Skin prick tests were performed in 273 patients and the presence of aeroallergen sensitivity was shown in 122 (30.2%) patients. Immunoglobulin deficiency was detected in 43 (10.7%) patients. Serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were low in 26 (6.5%), 18 (4.4%), and 12 (3%) patients, respectively.
Conclusion: We found the most common reasons are asthma and post-infectious cough in patients. Chronic cough can be the first symptom of primary immunodeficiency diseases and systemic diseases. A detailed history is necessary to avoid unnecessary procedures, treatments and to avoid delay in diagnosis.

Keywords : Asthma, chronic cough, children, immunoglobulin

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Article available in :
Volume 8, Issue 1, 2025
Page : 75-79
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1567695
Article Information
Received : 15 Eki 2024
Accepted : 06 Ara 2024
Published : 12 Oca 2025
Corresponding Author :

Hilal Ünsal: Department of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Ünsal H, Akalın Ertürk B. Characteristics of pediatric patients with chronic cough: data from a pediatric immunology and allergy outpatient clinic. J Health Sci Med. 2025;8(1):75-79.

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