Cough variant asthma in children

Abstract

Patients (32) were referred for evaluation of chronic cough. These 32 patients apparently represent a variety of asthmatic conditions in which the presenting manifestation is cough. The characteristics of the cough are discussed. All 32 patients responded to therapeutic trials of theophylline. Obvious clinical asthma developed in 18 of 24 patients available for long-term follow-up and, in 11 of these patients, the asthma was classified as mild. However, in 7 of these 18 patients, the asthma was classified as moderate in severity in that they eventually required around-the-clock daily bronchodilators. Apparently, this group demonstrates that cough variant asthma is a distinct but frequently unrecognized entity in children.