Cough resident survival guide (pediatrics)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Tayyaba Ali, M.D.[2]
Synonyms and keywords:
Overview
This section provides a short and straight to the point overview of the disease or symptom. The first sentence of the overview must contain the name of the disease.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions that may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
Diagnosis
Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of [[disease name]] according the the [...] guidelines.
Chronic Cough >4 weeks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Characterize the symptoms ❑ Chronic wet/productive cough ❑ Chest pain ❑ History suggestive of inhaled foreign body ❑ Dyspnea ❑ Exertional dyspnea ❑ Hemoptysis ❑ Failure to thrive ❑ Choking ❑ Vomiting ❑ Cardiac anomaly ❑ Neurodevelopmental abnormalities ❑ Recurrent sinopulmonary infections ❑ Immunodeficiency ❑ Epidemiologic risk factors for exposure to TB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Examine the patient ❑ Respiratory distress ❑ Digital clubbing ❑ Chest wall deformity ❑ Auscultatory crackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Order Chest X-ray or spirometry (if child is able to perform) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consider the diagnosis of Bacterial bronchitis | Consider the diagnosis of Asthma ❑ History of bilateral wheeze and exertional dyspnea ❑ Absence of other cough symptoms ❑ Absence of findings on lung examination ❑ Reversible obstructive defect or normal finding on spirometry (if performed) | Consider the diagnosis of Retained foreign body ❑ History of choking or sudden onset of symptoms ❑ Monophonic or unilateral wheeze ❑ Chest X-ray finding suggesting foreign body | Consider the other type of cough ❑ Tracheomalacia ❑ Pertussis ❑ Habit cough/tic cough (typically absent at night or when distracted and may be honking or short/dry) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Antibiotics for 2 to 4 weeks | Trial of Asthma therapies for 2 to 4 weeks | Perform rigid bronchoscopy for foreign body removal | Perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and treat as appropriate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cough resolves ❑ Likely bacterial bronchitis ❑ Reassess in 3 to 4 months to confirm that child remains well | Productive cough continues after 4 weeks ❑ Consider the diagnosis of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treatment
Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment of [[disease name]] according the the [...] guidelines.
Do's
- The content in this section is in bullet points.
Don'ts
- The content in this section is in bullet points.