Differential diagnoses of chronic cough in children
| Isolated cough: otherwise healthy child | Isolated cough : significant underlying cause |
|---|---|
| TOF=tracheo-oesophageal fistula. | |
| Chronic suppurative lung disease | |
| Recurrent viral bronchitis | • Cystic fibrosis |
| Post-infectious cough | • Immune deficiencies |
| Pertussis-like illness | • Primary ciliary dyskinesia |
| Cough variant asthma | • Recurrent pulmonary aspiration |
| Postnasal drip | • Retained inhaled foreign body |
| Psychogenic cough | • Chronic bronchitis |
| Habit (“tic” like) | Airways lesion |
| Bizarre honking cough | • Compression, e.g. tuberculous gland |
| Gastro-oesophageal reflux | • Malacia, often with viral infection, e.g. TOF cough |