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Does Idiopathic Cough Exist?

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Abstract

Despite a meticulous protocol involving diagnostic testing and trials of empirical therapy, there may be no obvious cause for a chronic cough in up to 42% of cases referred for specialist evaluation. In some cases, failure to consider causes that include the asthma/eosinophilic airway syndromes such as eosinophilic bronchitis and atopic cough, or nonacid gastroesophageal reflux disease may explain diagnostic failure. However, a distinct group of patients may be considered to have true idiopathic cough. Current published evidence suggests a certain patient phenotype, namely, middle-aged females with prolonged nonproductive cough and cough reflex hypersensitivity. Almost nothing else is known about this clinical entity and currently no specific therapy exists.

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Correspondence to Lorcan P. A. McGarvey.

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McGarvey, L.P.A. Does Idiopathic Cough Exist?. Lung 186 (Suppl 1), 78–81 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-007-9048-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-007-9048-4

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