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What Is Chronic Cough?

What Is Chronic Cough?
Coughing is an essential body reflex, one that protects the body from foreign irritants. Through coughing, the body works to remove the detected irritant before it has the chance to do any harm. However, we often see people dealing with a persistent cough. In such a case, the cough can reflect negatively on one’s everyday life and routine, not to mention that it can be one of the early signs of a much more serious health issue.

Persistent cough

For a cough to be defined as chronic or persistent, it should persist for longer than eight weeks in adults and four weeks in children. Chronic cough is known to be the most common symptom presenting in adults seeking medical treatment. According to researchers, chronic cough presents in up to 10% of the general population (1).

Chronic Refractory Cough

Chronic refractory cough is a chronic cough that persists despite guideline-based treatments. About 20 to 46% of patients who present themselves at a specialized cough clinic are diagnosed with chronic refractory cough (2). Before diagnosis it is also referred to as unexplained cough, or idiopathic cough. In the majority of cases, an underlying cause of cough can be found, such as asthma. However, for some patients, this is not the case and it can take years before they end up at the right physician who can help them with the right diagnose.

Chronic cough is not to be ignored

Cough is a signal of the body. If cough persists, it is always advised to seek medical attention. It is important to rule out any underlying medical cause.

Impact of cough

Struggling with a chronic cough without seeking treatment can be quite damaging in terms of your social and everyday life. People with chronic cough might experience sleep issues because of it (3). In some cases, such as postnasal drip cases, the cough tends to worsen at night. As a result, the person can experience daytime fatigue, lower concentration, and mood swings throughout the day. In return, productivity and work/school performance can significantly decline. Living with a chronic cough can have a negative influence on one’s mental health as well. It can cause anxiety, depression, high-stress levels, and even lower self-confidence (4). Such events can often be seen in the cases of idiopathic chronic cough and during the period in which the doctor is trying to accurately diagnose the root of the problem. Chronic cough is not to be underestimated or ignored, knowing that it can be an early sign of a much more serious health issue. Throughout the years, there have been many different factors identified as causes for chronic cough. Talk about it with your healthcare provider.

Chronic cough and COVID

With the outbreak of the new coronavirus and the many death cases due to COVID-19, chronic cough has gotten a new meaning. Being one of the key symptoms of COVID-19, along with tiredness and fever, anyone who is experiencing persistent dry cough is advised to schedule a visit to the doctor. References Perotin et al. (2018); Managing patients with chronic cough: challenges and solutions; Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 2018:14 Peter Dicpinigaitis (2020); Understanding the Foundations of Chronic Cough; The American Journal of Managed care 2020:26 Young et al. (2010); Quality of life in patients with chronic cough Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease 2010:4(1) Hume et al. (2017); Psychological profile of individuals presenting with chronic cough; ERJ Open Research 2017:3 Become a Patient Expert
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Qu’est-ce que la toux chronique ?
La toux est un réflexe essentiel qui permet de protéger l’organisme de substances irritantes externes. Grâce à la toux, l’organisme a la capacité de retirer la substance irritante avant qu’elle ait une chance de provoquer des dégâts. Cependant, nous voyons souvent des patients confrontés à une toux persistante. Dans une telle situation, la toux peut avoir un impact négatif sur la vie de tous les jours sans oublier qu’il peut s’agir d’un signe précoce d’un problème sous-jacent plus sérieux.

La toux chronique

Pour qu’une toux soit définie comme chronique ou persistante, elle doit durer au-delà de 8 semaines chez les adultes et 4 semaines chez les enfants. La toux chronique est le symptôme le plus fréquemment rencontré chez les adultes qui consultent leur médecin. Selon les chercheurs, la toux chronique peut toucher jusqu’à 18 % de la population générale (1).

La toux chronique réfractaire

Si la toux persiste malgré des traitements basés sur les recommandations, cette toux est appelée toux chronique réfractaire. Ce type de toux survient chez 20 à 46 % des patients qui se présentent à une clinique spécialisée dans la toux (2). Avant d’arriver au diagnostic final, on parle aussi de toux inexpliquée ou toux idiopathique. Dans la majorité des cas une cause sous-jacente est retrouvée comme l’asthme. Mais chez certains patients, cela n’est pas le cas et il est parfois nécessaire d’attendre plusieurs années avant d’avoir un diagnostic final.

La toux chronique ne doit pas être ignorée

La toux est une réponse de l’organisme. Si la toux persiste, il est toujours conseillé de consulter un médecin. Il est important d’exclure toute cause médicale sous-jacente.

L’impact de la toux

Faire face à une toux chronique sans rechercher de traitement médical peut être préjudiciable d’un point de vue social et sur la vie de tous les jours. Les patients confrontés à la toux chronique présentent souvent des problèmes de sommeil (3). Dans certains cas, tel dans le cas d’écoulement post nasal, cette toux peut s’aggraver pendant la nuit. De ce fait, certains patients peuvent ressentir une fatigue durant la journée, une réduction de leur concentration et des sautes d’humeur. En conséquence, les performances au travail ou à l’école et la productivité peuvent significativement être abaissées. Vivre avec une toux chronique peut également avoir une influence négative sur la santé mentale. Cette toux peut provoquer de l’anxiété, de la dépression, un haut niveau de stress et même une perte de confiance en soi (4). De tels événements peuvent se rencontrer dans les cas de toux chronique idiopathique et pendant la période nécessaire au médecin pour établir un diagnostic exact du problème à la base. La toux chronique ne doit pas être sous-estimée ou ignorée, sachant qu’elle peut être un signe précoce d’une pathologie plus sérieuse. Au cours des dernières années, plusieurs facteurs différents ont été identifiés comme agent causal de cette toux chronique. Parlez-en avec votre médecin.

La toux et la COVID-19

Avec la pandémie liée au nouveau coronavirus et les nombreux décès occasionnés par la COVID-19, la toux chronique a acquis une nouvelle dimension. Considéré comme l’un des symptômes majeurs de la COVID-19, la toux se rencontre en même temps que la fatigue ou la température. Toute personne présentant une toux sèche persistante doit consulter impérativement son médecin.
Références
1)     Perotin et al. (2018); Managing patients with chronic cough: challenges and solutions; Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 2018:14 2)     Peter Dicpinigaitis (2020); Understanding the Foundations of Chronic Cough; The American Journal of Managed care 2020:26 3)     Young et al. (2010); Quality of life in patients with chronic cough Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease 2010:4(1) 4)     Hume et al. (2017); Psychological profile of individuals presenting with chronic cough; ERJ Open Research 2017:3 Devenez un patient expert
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What Is Chronic Cough?
Coughing is an essential body reflex, one that protects the body from foreign irritants. Through coughing, the body works to remove the detected irritant before it has the chance to do any harm. However, we often see people dealing with a persistent cough. In such a case, the cough can reflect negatively on one’s everyday life and routine, not to mention that it can be one of the early signs of a much more serious health issue.

Persistent cough

For a cough to be defined as chronic or persistent, it should persist for longer than eight weeks in adults and four weeks in children. Chronic cough is known to be the most common symptom presenting in adults seeking medical treatment. According to researchers, chronic cough presents in up to 10% of the general population (1).

Chronic Refractory Cough

Chronic refractory cough is a chronic cough that persists despite guideline-based treatments. About 20 to 46% of patients who present themselves at a specialized cough clinic are diagnosed with chronic refractory cough (2). Before diagnosis it is also referred to as unexplained cough, or idiopathic cough. In the majority of cases, an underlying cause of cough can be found, such as asthma. However, for some patients, this is not the case and it can take years before they end up at the right physician who can help them with the right diagnose.

Chronic cough is not to be ignored

Cough is a signal of the body. If cough persists, it is always advised to seek medical attention. It is important to rule out any underlying medical cause.

Impact of cough

Struggling with a chronic cough without seeking treatment can be quite damaging in terms of your social and everyday life. People with chronic cough might experience sleep issues because of it (3). In some cases, such as postnasal drip cases, the cough tends to worsen at night. As a result, the person can experience daytime fatigue, lower concentration, and mood swings throughout the day. In return, productivity and work/school performance can significantly decline. Living with a chronic cough can have a negative influence on one’s mental health as well. It can cause anxiety, depression, high-stress levels, and even lower self-confidence (4). Such events can often be seen in the cases of idiopathic chronic cough and during the period in which the doctor is trying to accurately diagnose the root of the problem. Chronic cough is not to be underestimated or ignored, knowing that it can be an early sign of a much more serious health issue. Throughout the years, there have been many different factors identified as causes for chronic cough. Talk about it with your healthcare provider.

Chronic cough and COVID

With the outbreak of the new coronavirus and the many death cases due to COVID-19, chronic cough has gotten a new meaning. Being one of the key symptoms of COVID-19, along with tiredness and fever, anyone who is experiencing persistent dry cough is advised to schedule a visit to the doctor. References Perotin et al. (2018); Managing patients with chronic cough: challenges and solutions; Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 2018:14 Peter Dicpinigaitis (2020); Understanding the Foundations of Chronic Cough; The American Journal of Managed care 2020:26 Young et al. (2010); Quality of life in patients with chronic cough Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease 2010:4(1) Hume et al. (2017); Psychological profile of individuals presenting with chronic cough; ERJ Open Research 2017:3 Become a Patient Expert
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