Persistent and prolonged cough in children: differential diagnosis and treatment algorithms

Abstract

The article presents data on the etiology, modern methods for diagnosis and treatment of respiratory system diseases and examines in detail cough as the main symptom. Particular attention is paid to hypertussivity, which is defined as a cough that occurs in the absence of obvious reasons. In addition, the emphasize was put on the role of anatomical and physiological features in the development and characteristics of cough, especially in young children. The authors draw attention to the complex mechanism of the cough, which development involves many body systems such as nervous, immune, endocrine and respiratory. The article describes the main treatment methods, drugs prescribed to the patients with cough, which are divided into «antitussive» drugs used as cough suppressants and «protussive» drugs used in situations, in which mobilization of secretions is desired, combined drugs. The role of new combined drugs, in particular, Rengalin, which affects the central and peripheral links of the cough reflex, was noted.