Approach patient with cough
25 likes10,316 views
This document provides an overview of cough, including its definition, mechanism, causes, management, and classification. It begins by defining cough and describing its four step mechanism: 1) inspiratory gasp, 2) valsalva maneuver, 3) expiratory blast, and 4) post-tussive inspiration. Cough can be triggered by stimuli in various structures in the lungs, airways, and chest. Acute cough is classified as lasting less than 3 weeks, sub-acute 3-8 weeks, and chronic over 8 weeks. Common causes of chronic cough include lung diseases like asthma, GERD, post-nasal drip, and medications like ACE inhibitors. Investigation of chronic cough involves ruling out structural
![432MedicineTeam Cough
12
Step-up to Medicine page 439
A. General characteristics:
1. Cough can be divided into acute (less than 3
weeks duration) and chronic (more than 3
weeks duration).
2. If the cause is benign, cough usually
resolves in a few weeks. If a cough lasts for
longer than 1 month, further investigation is
appropriate.
3. Causes:
a. Conditions that are usually associated with
other symptoms and signs:
• Upper respiratory infections (URIs)—this is
probably the most common cause of acute cough.
• Pulmonary disease—pneumonia, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary
fibrosis, lung cancer, asthma, lung abscess,
tuberculosis.
• CHF with pulmonary edema.
b. Isolated cough in patients with normal
chest radiograph:
• Smoking
• Postnasal drip—may be caused by URIs (viral
infections), rhinitis (allergic or Non-allergic),
chronic sinusitis, or airborne irritants.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—
especially if nocturnal cough (when lying flat,
reflux worsens due to position and decreased lower
esophageal sphincter [LES] tone).
• Asthma—cough may be the only symptom in 5%
of cases.
• ACE inhibitors—may cause a dry cough (due to
bradykinin production).
B. Diagnosis
1. Usually no tests are indicated in a patient
with acute cough.
2. CXR is indicated only if a pulmonary cause
is suspected, if the patient has hemoptysis, or
if the patient has a chronic cough. It also may
be appropriate in a long-term smoker in
whom COPD or lung cancer is a possibility.
3. CBC if infection is suspected.
4. Pulmonary function testing if asthma is
suspected or if cause is unclear in a patient
with chronic cough.
5. Bronchoscopy (if there is no diagnosis after
above workup) to look for tumor, foreign
body, or tracheal web.
C. Treatment
1. Treat the underlying cause, if known.
2. Smoking cessation, if smoking is the cause.
3. Postnasal drip — Treat this with a first-
generation antihistamine / decongestant prep. If
sinusitis is also present, consider antibiotics. For
allergic rhinitis, consider a non-sedating long-
acting oral antihistamine (loratadine).
4. Nonspecific antitussive treatment:
a. Unnecessary in most cases, because cough
usually resolves with specific treatment of the
cause.
b. May be helpful in the following situations:
• If cause is unknown (and thus specific therapy
cannot be given).
• If specific therapy is not effective.
• If cough serves no useful purpose, such as
clearing excessive sputum production or
secretions.
c. Medications:
• Codeine
• Dextromethorphan
• Benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) capsules
d. Agents used to improve the effectiveness of
antitussive medications include expectorants
such as guaifenesin and water.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/approachpatientwithcough-170424114625/85/Approach-patient-with-cough-13-320.jpg)
Approach patient with cough
- 1. COLOR GUIDE: • Females' Notes • Males' Notes • Important • Additional Done By: Abdulmajeed AlJasser Khulood AlRaddadi Reviewed By: Khulood AlRaddadi
- 2. 432MedicineTeam Cough 1 Why do we cough? Classification and causes When and how to investigate Management Case study Objectives 1. Define what is Cough 2. Know the Mechanism of cough 3. Know the causes of cough 4. Know the side effects of cough 5. Manage how to approach a patient with cough Mind Map
- 3. 432MedicineTeam Cough 2 Few things to note: Valsalva requires closed airway, therefore pt with trash or paralyzed cords can’t cough very well. What happens in Valsalva maneuver is that so much pressure on the chest > setup vagal response > hypotension, bradycardia, blood to the brain > cough syncope attack. Inspiratory muscles= diaphragm & accessories - Expiratory muscles = intercostals and abdominals. Expiratory blast requires functional exp muscles, C6 quad loose this ability and have much less effective cough. Exp blast can reach 500mph! What is cough? - A Cough is a forced expulsive manoeuvre, usually against a closed glottis and which is associated with a characteristic sound. - It is a vital protective mechanism. It has four steps: 1. Inspiratory gasp 2. Valsalva maneuver "glottis is closed" 3. Expiratory blast as cords abduct 4. Post-tussive prolonged inspiration Cough Reflexes: - Efferent Pathway: 4 Phases 1. Inspiratory Phase 2. Compressive Phase "glottis is closed" 3. Expiratory Phase "the sound is heard" 4. Relaxation Phase Vagus nerve is major afferent pathway. Stimuli arise from: 1. Ear 2. Pharynx 3. Larynx 4. Lungs 5. Tracheobronchial tree 6. Heart 7. Pericardium 8. Esophagus Types of Stimuli: Mechanical stimuli. Chemical stimuli. - Afferent Pathway: * If somebody presents with cough, think about these structures.
- 4. 432MedicineTeam Cough 3 What’s it good for? Impaired Cough: (Consequences) Aspiration of oropharyngeal or stomach contents (Bacteria, food, other) Acute airway obstruction Pneumonia Lung abscess Respiratory failure/ ARDS Bronchiectasis Pulmonary fibrosis Cough Complications: Intrathoracic pressure increases up to 300mmHg. Expiratory velocity reaches 500mph "mile per hour". Helps to clear mucous. BUT can cause complications: Headache Dizziness Musculoskeletal pain Syncope (cough syncopal episodes) Urinary incontinence Rib fracture Drives patient and everyone else crazy Attract attention Signal displeasure Protect the airway from pathogens, particulates, food, other foreign bodies Clear the airways of accumulated secretions, particles Public health concern: Spreading of infections
- 5. 432MedicineTeam Cough 4 Classification of Cough Three Categories of Cough: Acute Cough = < 3 Weeks Duration Sub-acute Cough = 3 – 8 Weeks Duration Chronic Cough = > 8 Weeks Duration Acute Cough: <3/52 Duration Differential Diagnosis: Upper Respiratory Tract infections: Viral syndromes, sinusitis viral / bacterial URTI triggering exacerbations of Chronic Lung Disease e.g. Asthma/ COPD Pneumonia Left Ventricular Heart Failure Foreign Body Aspiration Epidemiology: Symptomatic URTI 2-5 per adults per year 7-10 per child per year 40-50% will have cough Self-medication common -£24million per year 20% consult GP (2F:1M) Most resolve within 2 weeks "don't treat unless they have certain problems other than the cough i.e. prevent them from sleeping, fractured rib or severe pain". Duration of Cough in URTI: "Trial" Primary Care Setting: No antecedent or chronic lung disease End of Week % Coughing 3 58 4 35 5 17 6 8 *Jones FJ and Stewart MA, Aust Family Physician Vol. 31, No. 10, October 2002 Sub-acute Cough Post viral cough Any cough whether sub-acute or chronic starts as an acute cough.
- 6. 432MedicineTeam Cough 5 Managing Acute Cough: "Identify High Risk groups" Acute Cough can be the 1st Indicator of Serious Disease, e.g. Lung cancer, TB, Foreign Body, Allergy, Interstitial Lung disease. Chronic cough always preceded by acute cough. Red Flags in Acute Cough: Treatment of Simple Acute Cough: Benign course –reassure. Cough can cause distress. Patients report OTC medication is helpful. Voluntary cough suppression -linctuses/ drinks. Suppression of cough -dextromethorphan, menthol, sedating antihistamines & codeine "they make the patient feel better but Be Careful! because some can cause addiction". Which Anti-tussive? Symptoms: Haemoptysis Breathlessness Fever Chest Pain Weight Loss Signs: Tachypnoea Cyanosis Dull chest Bronchial Breathing Crackles THINK about pneumonia, lung cancer, LVF GET a CHEST X-Ray - Dextromorphan E.g. Benilyn non-drowsy 1 meta-analysis High dose 60mg Beware combinations e.g. paracetomol - Sedating Antihistamines Danger sleepy - nocturnal cough - Menthol Steam inhalation. Effect on reflex short lived "short term" - Codeine or Pholcodeine No better than dextromorphan but more side-effects. Not recommended
- 7. 432MedicineTeam Cough 6 Sub-Acute Cough: 3-8 weeks Likely Diagnoses: Post infectious Bacterial Sinusitis Asthma Start of Chronic Cough Don’t want to miss lung cancer and TB. Action: Examine Chest. Chest X-Ray if signs or smoker, or contact with TB patients. Measure of airflow obstruction i.e. peak flow - one off peak flow – serial spirometry. Post Infectious Cough: A cough that begins with an acute respiratory tract infection and is not complicated* by pneumonia. Post Infectious cough will resolve without treatment. The cause of Post Infectious Cough is Postnasal drip or Tracheobronchitis. * Not complicated = Normal lung exam and normal chest X-ray Chronic cough: Epidemiology: Associations with: Smoking (dose related) Pollutants (particulate PM10) -occupation Environmental irritants (e.g. cat dander) Asthma Reflux Obesity Irritable bowel syndrome Female Epidemiology difficult -acute vs chronic Cullinan 1992 Respir Med 86:143-9 n=9077 16% coughed on >50% days of year 13% coughed sputum on >50% days of year 54% were smokers
- 8. 432MedicineTeam Cough 7 Case Study -CP 2007: 60yr retired Nurse Chest infection 2002 in Spain -mild SOB since Chest infection 2006 -hospitalised for 4/7 antibiotics/steroids SOB and dry cough No variation "remains the same all the time" 4 lots of AB and steroids from GP plus tiotropium & oxis -no help for cough With climbing More SOB over 9/12 Ex-smoker 30 pack yrs FEV1 0.97 43% "obstruction" What else would you like to know? "Or what is important to be asked in this case" - If she has any contact with TB patients. - Symptoms of heart failure. - Smoking (mentioned) or any pollutants. - Job (mentioned above) or any environmental condition. - History of Asthma or nasal drip. - Symptoms of gastric reflex. What causes can you think of? Common Differentials: (90% of causes of chronic cough are due to Lung Disease, Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux and Post-nasal Drip). • Allergic rhinitis • Bacterial sinusitis • ACE-Inhibitors • Tobacco • Habit Cough • Normal CXR • Abnormal CXR Lung Disease Gastro- Oesophageal Reflux Non- structural Post-nasal Drip If you are on B-blockers and you are coughing, think about asthma. ACEIs are commonly prescribed for post MI, HF, HTN and renal diseases.
- 9. 432MedicineTeam Cough 8 Causes of Chronic Cough: "430 Team" Investigating Chronic Cough Purpose: To exclude structural disease "cancer, TB, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis or COPD". To identify cause How: History & Examination including occupation & Spirometry. Cough triggered by: Change in temperature, Scent, sprays, aerosols and exercise indicates: Increased cough reflex sensitivity and not just seen in Asthma. Esp. GORD, infection and ACEI. ACE-Inhibitors and Chronic Cough: Incidence: 5-20% Onset: one week to six months Mechanism: Bradykinin or Substance P increase Usually metabolized by ACE PGE2 accumulates and vagal stimulation Treatment: switch to Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) ALWAYS GET A CHEST X-RAY IN CHRONIC COUGH Hx of patient with cough for 1 week to 6 months after starting ACEIs medication (the main cause) or sometimes it potentiates the cough (makes it worse) due to other causes. Most common but have normal CXR o Cough-variant asthma o Post-nasal drip o GERD: gastroesophygeal reflux disease o Non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis Less common but cause patients to go to hospitals more often; can have abnormal CXR o Chronic bronchitis o Bronchiectasis o ACE inhibitors e.g. Lisinopril o ILD o Tuberculosis
- 10. 432MedicineTeam Cough 9 Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux GORD accounts alone or in combination for 10-40% of chronic cough. Two Mechanisms: Aspiration to larynx/ trachea "mechanical". Acid in distal oesophagus stimulates vagus and cough reflex "the commonest - chemical". Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Symptoms: Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Investigation: Esophageal pH monitoring for 24 hours (+diary) - 95% sensitive and specific 95%. Ba swallow - not sensitive enough. Endoscopy - may confirm but false -ve rate. Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Treatment: Trial of Therapy: High dose twice daily PPI for min 8weeks. + prokinetic e.g. domperidone or metoclopramide. Eliminate contributing drugs. Baclofen rarely. Improves in 75-100% of cases. Cough Features: Throat clearing Worse at night / rising On eating Reflex hypersensitivity CXR -normal or hiatus hernia Spirometry normal GI Symptoms: If Aspiration main mechanism: Heart burn Water brash/ Sour taste Regurgitation Morning Hoarseness If vagal – No GI symptoms - 70% of patients with cough due to reflex won't have symptoms of indigestion so they won't have heart pain. - It worsens in the morning because the lower esophageal tone is reduced to prepare your stomach for eating.
- 11. 432MedicineTeam Cough 10 Post-Nasal Drip Post Nasal Drip Treatment: Options: 1. Exclude /treat infection 2. Nasal steroid for 8/52 3. Sedating antihistamines 4. Antileukotrienes e.g. montelukast 5. Saline lavage 6. ENT opinion Lung Diseases inc Tobacco Favouring Lung Disease: Shortness of breath Wheeze Sputum production Haemoptysis Chest signs e.g. crackles Chest X-Ray and Differential of Cough Symptoms: Something dripping Frequent throat clearing Nasal congestion / discharge Posture Causes: Allergic rhinitis Non-allergic rhinitis Vasomotor rhinitis Chronic bacterial sinusitis Normal CXR Gastro-oesophageal reflux Post-nasal Drip Smokers cough/ Chronic Bronchitis Asthma COPD Bronchiectasis Foreign body Abnormal CXR Left ventricular failure Lung cancer Infection/ TB Pulmonary fibrosis Pleural effusion Post-nasal drip (PND), also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome, occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose (worst on lying down) It can be caused by rhinitis (allergic or non-allergic), sinusitis (acute or chronic). Lying down the nasal drip touches the larynx and vocal cords (very sensitive centers) cough is generated. "429 team" The drip results in pharyngeal syndrome because once the cough is established it causes high velocity impact in the upper airways causing trauma, redness and hyperemia making the airways more sensitive thus causing a vicious circle. Nasal drip usually ends with a pharyngeal syndrome with irritation of Upper airways. "430 teams"
- 12. 432MedicineTeam Cough 11 Onset? Recent or long standing (Chronic). Duration? Chronicity: Pertussis – TB - Foreign body – Asthma – Drugs – Bronchiectasis – ILD. Character? Brassy? Pressure on the trachea? o Change in character of a chronic cough should make you consider other pathology. Nocturnal? Asthma o Also Early morning. Precipitating factors? o Usually in asthma: Emotion – Weather (Wind – Rain – Cold) – Dust – Allergies – Exercise – Drugs. Relieving factors? Avoidance of precipitating factors! Sputum? * Presence? Colour - Volume – Consistency – Pattern. o Consider: Infections – COPD – CF – Bronchiectatsis. Haemoptysis? Association? Breathlessness – Sputum - Chest pain – Wheeze – Hoarseness - Post nasal drip. * Churchill’s pocketbook of differential diagnosis, page 84: "431 team" - Cough continuously productive of purulent sputum is suggestive of “chronic bronchitis”. - Expectorated bloodstained sputum tends to be a complaint of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, pulmonary embolism and TB. Davidson, 22nd ed Page 654
- 13. 432MedicineTeam Cough 12 Step-up to Medicine page 439 A. General characteristics: 1. Cough can be divided into acute (less than 3 weeks duration) and chronic (more than 3 weeks duration). 2. If the cause is benign, cough usually resolves in a few weeks. If a cough lasts for longer than 1 month, further investigation is appropriate. 3. Causes: a. Conditions that are usually associated with other symptoms and signs: • Upper respiratory infections (URIs)—this is probably the most common cause of acute cough. • Pulmonary disease—pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, asthma, lung abscess, tuberculosis. • CHF with pulmonary edema. b. Isolated cough in patients with normal chest radiograph: • Smoking • Postnasal drip—may be caused by URIs (viral infections), rhinitis (allergic or Non-allergic), chronic sinusitis, or airborne irritants. • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)— especially if nocturnal cough (when lying flat, reflux worsens due to position and decreased lower esophageal sphincter [LES] tone). • Asthma—cough may be the only symptom in 5% of cases. • ACE inhibitors—may cause a dry cough (due to bradykinin production). B. Diagnosis 1. Usually no tests are indicated in a patient with acute cough. 2. CXR is indicated only if a pulmonary cause is suspected, if the patient has hemoptysis, or if the patient has a chronic cough. It also may be appropriate in a long-term smoker in whom COPD or lung cancer is a possibility. 3. CBC if infection is suspected. 4. Pulmonary function testing if asthma is suspected or if cause is unclear in a patient with chronic cough. 5. Bronchoscopy (if there is no diagnosis after above workup) to look for tumor, foreign body, or tracheal web. C. Treatment 1. Treat the underlying cause, if known. 2. Smoking cessation, if smoking is the cause. 3. Postnasal drip — Treat this with a first- generation antihistamine / decongestant prep. If sinusitis is also present, consider antibiotics. For allergic rhinitis, consider a non-sedating long- acting oral antihistamine (loratadine). 4. Nonspecific antitussive treatment: a. Unnecessary in most cases, because cough usually resolves with specific treatment of the cause. b. May be helpful in the following situations: • If cause is unknown (and thus specific therapy cannot be given). • If specific therapy is not effective. • If cough serves no useful purpose, such as clearing excessive sputum production or secretions. c. Medications: • Codeine • Dextromethorphan • Benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) capsules d. Agents used to improve the effectiveness of antitussive medications include expectorants such as guaifenesin and water.
- 14. 432MedicineTeam Cough 13 Questions 1) A 45 year old woman complains of sudden onset of a non- productive cough and shortness of breath. Examination of the chest is unremarkable. Respiratory rate = 25, Pulse = 95. T = 98.2° F. In this setting which of the following is high in your differential diagnosis: A. Pulmonary embolism B. Myocardial infarction C. Asthma D. Pneumonia 2) A cough made worse in recumbent position suggests: A. Pulmonary embolism B. Asthma C. Gastroesophageal reflux D. Subdiaphragmatic abscess 3) Most common cause of a chronic slightly productive cough in the adult population is: A. Asthma B. Chronic bronchial inflammation C. Heart failure D. None of the above Answers: 1- A 2- C 3- B 432 Medicine Team Leaders Raghad AlMutalq & Abdulrahman Al Zahrani For mistakes or feedback: [email protected]