The search for the hypersensitivity in chronic cough

Chronic cough is a common disorder that affects an estimated 10% of the general population [1]. Adverse symptoms such as urinary incontinence, chest pains, headaches and syncope are frequently associated with cough and lead to poor health-related quality of life [2, 3]. Chronic cough has long been viewed as a symptom of other chronic disorders, hence the current approach to assessing and treating patients focuses on identifying an underlying condition, such as asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease [4]. A significant number of cases of chronic cough, as many as 50%, remain unexplained following detailed assessment. They are often referred to as idiopathic, unexplained or refractory chronic cough [5, 6]. Recently, there has been consensus that chronic cough is a disorder of dysregulated sensory nerves and the associated central processing [7]. In this model, an important symptom reported by patients is an exaggerated sensation of the urge to cough, reflecting a disorder of the primary ascending neurons that innervate the airways and lungs [8].
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: COPD and smoking, Asthma and allergy Editorials Source Type: research