Cough Specialist Doctor: Understanding Persistent Coughs in Children
Does your child's cough seem to drag on long after the cold has gone? A persistent cough lasting more than four weeks isn't just frustrating; it could point to something that genuinely needs specialist attention. Most childhood coughs start with a viral infection and resolve on their own. But when a cough lingers, worsens at night, or comes with rapid breathing and fever, it signals it's time to look further. Common Causes of Persistent Cough in Children Persistent cough in children, defined as lasting more than four weeks, can stem from a range of causes, including foreign body aspiration, cystic fibrosis, and primary ciliary dyskinesia. The more common culprits, though, are protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), asthma, and post-viral airway hypersensitivity. The 2024 joint BTS/NICE/SIGN guideline reinforces that asthma should not be confirmed without a suggestive clinical history and a supporting objective test; suspected asthma should be coded as such until fo...