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Cough, Pediatric

Margaret M. McNamara, MD and Gwynne D. Church, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

A high-velocity expulsion of gas from the airways that serves to clear them of mucus, cellular and microbial debris, or foreign bodies. An absence or inability to cough can lead to r...

DIAGNOSIS

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

  • Infection and asthma are the most common causes of cough in all pediatric age groups and should always be considered.

  • Children have an average of 6 to 8 upper respirator...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Cough should be treated based on etiology.

  • Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines are widely prescribed, overused, and may have negative consequences.

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Ad...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Anbar RD, Hall HR. Childhood habit cough treated with self-hypnosis. J Pediatr.  2004;144(2):213–217. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Chang AB, Robertson CF, van Asperen PP, et ...

CODES

ICD9

  • 786.2 Cough

  • 460 Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]

  • 493.9 Asthma, unspecified type, without mention of status asthmaticus

  • 490 Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

  • 530.81 Esophageal refl...

FAQ

  • Q: Is whooping cough still a problem despite routine childhood immunization?

  • A: Yes. Pertussis often goes unrecognized as a cause of acute and chronic cough, particularly in infants who have not co...

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