Persistent cough as a manifestation of bronchial asthma in Nigerian children

ABSTRACT

In order to determine the relationship between persistent cough without wheezing and asthma; 22 children between the ages of presentation 6 and 15 years with persistent cough as the sole presentation of illness were evaluated for exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB). Despite normal base-line peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR); all the subjects demonstrated significant EIB (mean PEFR fall from resting value was 27.8); which was abolished by bronchodilator therapy. Furthermore; all the subjects improved symptomatically during bronchodilator therapy. However; unlike typical asthmatics; history of personal allergy was absent; and positive response to prick skin test was infrequent. It is suggested that children with persistent cough without wheezing and breathlessness should be evaluated for bronchial asthma and when age or lack of facilities precludes such evaluation; a therapeutic trial of bronchodilator is advocated