Cough in children is a common chief complaint. It is important to adopt a systematic approach to the evaluation and management of chronic cough and avoid symptomatic treatment. The use of pediatric-specific cough management algorithms improves clinical outcomes.
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Cough is a common reason for pediatric outpatient visits. Cough as a manifestation of respiratory disease can range from minor upper respiratory tract infections to serious conditions such as bronchiectasis. Acute cough in children is mostly caused by upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Chronic cough, defined as daily cough of at least 4 weeks in duration, (1) can be associated with an underlying serious disorder and, hence, requires systematic and thorough clinical evaluation. There is high-quality evidence that a systematic approach to the management of chronic cough in children using pediatric-specific cough algorithms improves clinical outcomes. (1) Treatment of...
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