Pneumologie 2023; 77(08): 574-585
DOI: 10.1055/a-1849-4345
Fort- und Weiterbildung

Chronischer Husten

Chronic cough
Peter Kardos

Chronischer Husten ist definiert als Husten, der länger als 8 Wochen anhält. Er ist ein Symptom praktisch aller pneumologischen Erkrankungen und sollte nach Abklärung der zugrunde liegenden Diagnose möglichst kausal behandelt werden. Nicht immer lässt sich jedoch eine zugrunde liegende Erkrankung diagnostizieren.

Abstract

Chronic cough (i.e., cough lasting >8 weeks) has a global prevalence of approximately 10%. The individual burden can be long-lasting, with some patients experiencing cough for many years. Although chronic cough is often a symptom of respiratory diseases (e.g., lung cancer, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or associated with triggers (e.g., asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, rhinosinusitis) and may resolve after targeted treatment of these conditions, some patients continue to cough despite optimal treatment (refractory chronic cough, RCC) or have no identifiable conditions presumed to be contributing to the cough (unexplained chronic cough, UCC). In patients with chronic cough, it is critical to perform a thorough initial patient assessment with adherence to a diagnostic algorithm (e.g., of the German Respiratory Society Cough Guidelines) to identify the cause of the symptom cough and provide appropriate treatment; or diagnose RCC and UCC. Primary care physicians should provide the initial diagnostic workup of patients with chronic cough (history, physical exam, chest X-ray and spirometry). If no cause of the cough can be identified, referral to specialists (e.g., pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists) may be appropriate. Increased appreciation of chronic cough as a distinct condition, rather than as only a symptom of other diseases, may help overcome current challenges in diagnosing and managing chronic cough.



Publication History

Article published online:
24 August 2023

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