It is not uncommon for a pediatric gastroenterologist to see a patient with a chronic cough due to concerns about potential gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As such, a recent clinical practice article (JA Smith, A Woodcock. NEJM 2016; 375: 1544-51) by lung specialists was of interest, even though this article was not targeted to the pediatric population.
Key points:
- The authors define a chronic cough as lasting more than 8 weeks and note that it common with respiratory conditions (eg. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and bronchiectasis) and some non-respiratory conditions (eg. gastroesophageal reflux and rhinosinusitis). Medications, particularly ACE inhibitors, can trigger a chronic cough as well.
- Steps in evaluation: 1. H&P, CXR, spirometry. 2. Consider metacholine challenge, ENT evaluation, consider empiric treatment (eg. inhaled glucocorticoids, PPI), and consider GERD evaluation. 3. High-resolution CT and bronchoscopy.
- For many patients, there is likely to be an abnormality in neuronal pathways controlling cough and the term “cough hypersensitivity syndrome” has been coined. Figure 2 (below) illustrates the neuronal pathways.
- For refractory patients, potential therapies would include low-dose morphine, gabapentin or pregabalin, and speech language therapy.
GERD:
- Guidelines “suggest a trial of treatment with acid-suppression therapy” (eg. twice-daily PPIs for up to 3 months).
- “Most randomized, controlled trials of reflux treatment for cough have not shown a significant improvement in association with this type of treatment.”
- Subgroups of patients with heartburn, regurgitation, or excessive acid reflux on esophageal pH monitoring “appeared marginally more likely to have a response to PPI treatment.” pH or impedance tests “are poorly predictive of a response of cough to acid suppression.”
My take: In the absence of clinical reflux, reflux therapy is unlikely to help with chronic cough. However, in patients with an adequate workup, an empiric course of a PPI is likely more preferable than empiric morphine or gabapentin.
Related blog posts:
- Proton Pump Inhibitors Webinar | gutsandgrowth
- Even the Experts Agree: pH-MII is a “Flawed Test” | gutsandgrowth
- Gastroesophageal Reflux: I know it when I see it | gutsandgrowth -Numerous annotated references
- Treating reflux does not help asthma | gutsandgrowth
- Why didn’t patient with documented reflux get better … – gutsandgrowth
- Impedance recommendations from PIG | gutsandgrowth
Advertisements
