Source: Annual Congress 2011 - The new clinical spectrum of lung diseases: from bronchi to pleura
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Background: When known causes for cough are excluded there still remains a group of patients with persistent coughing. They can be described as having chronic refractory unexplained cough. Sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) is one suggested explanation to cough and other airway symptoms induced by chemicals and scents. The patients can be identified using a capsaicin inhalation test.
The aim was to analyze capsaicin sensitivity in a group of patients with chronic refractory unexplained cough. Further we wanted to evaluate a cough specific questionnaire.
Method: From an earlier cross sectional study in patients with chronic cough, 41 patients without chemical sensitivity (non sensitive group) and 35 patients with chemical sensitivity (sensitive group) were invited. The participants underwent a capsaicin inhalation test, and answered the Swedish version of Hull Airway Questionnaire (HARQ). A cut off limit of ≤ 13 score has been suggested as normal.
Results: 15 patients in the non sensitive group and 30 in the sensitive group participated. The reason for not participating was in the non sensitive group: recovery (n=19), would not (n=7) and in the sensitive group: problems to be away from work (n=5). Capsaicin induced significantly more cough and other airway symptoms in the sensitive group compared to the non sensitive group (p < 0.05). Mean total HARQ score was 18 in both groups.
Conclusions: Chemically induced airway symptoms in chronic refractory unexplained cough, seems to be a prognostic factor that can cause prolonged symptoms. SHR is a possible explanation for this sub-group of cough patients. The HARQ questionnaire has a good ability to identify patients who for various reasons have chronic cough.

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
E. Ternesten Hasséus, E. Millqvist (Gothenburg, Sweden). Capsaicin sensitivity in patients with chronic refractory unexplained cough. Eur Respir J 2011; 38: Suppl. 55, 489

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Chemical sensitivity in patients with chronic idiopathic cough Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Airway responsiveness, chronic cough and bronchiectasis: a modern approach Year: 2010 Impaired cough suppression in chronic refractory cough Source: Eur Respir J, 53 (5) 1802203; 10.1183/13993003.02203-2018 Year: 2019 Is laryngeal hypersensitivity the basis of unexplained or refractory chronic cough? Source: ERJ Open Res, 7 (1) 00793-2020; 10.1183/23120541.00793-2020 Year: 2021 Nonpharmacological cough control therapy for chronic refractory cough and cough associated with underlying lung disease Source: ERJ Open Res, 6 (1) 00243-2019; 10.1183/23120541.00243-2019 Year: 2020 Chronic tonsillar enlargement and cough: preliminary evidence of a novel and treatable cause of chronic cough Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 23: 199-201 Year: 2004 How to manage chronic cough patients Source: ERS Satellites 2021 Year: 2021 Chronic refractory cough Source: Virtual Congress 2020 – Clinical grand round: revisiting current guidelines Year: 2020 The diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough patients Source: Eur Respir J 2005; 26: Suppl. 49, 300s Year: 2005 Tourette‘s syndrome manifest as chronic cough in children Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Paediatric epidemiology: bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma and spirometry in non-respiratory conditions Year: 2011 Gastroesofageal reflux in patients with chronic cough Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: Suppl. 48, 47s Year: 2004 Treatment approach in chronic dry cough patients Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Airway responsiveness, chronic cough and bronchiectasis: a modern approach Year: 2010 Algorythm of differential diagnostics and further management of cough variant asthma in patients with chronic cough Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 372s Year: 2003 Do patients with asthma cough more frequently at night during impedance/pH monitoring than other patients with chronic cough? Source: International Congress 2019 – Chronic cough, a1-antitrypsin deficiency and other conditions Year: 2019 Cough reflex sensitivity in patients with cough variant asthma Source: International Congress 2019 – Clinical implications of asthma management Year: 2019 The diagnosis and management of chronic cough Source: Guideline 2004 Year: 2004 The diagnosis and management of chronic cough Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: 481-492 Year: 2004 The interrelatedness of chronic cough and chronic pain Source: Eur Respir J, 57 (5) 2002651; 10.1183/13993003.02651-2020 Year: 2021 Psychological profile of individuals presenting with chronic cough Source: ERJ Open Res, 3 (1) 00099-2016; 10.1183/23120541.00099-2016 Year: 2017 The treatment of cough with interferon in adult patients with stable chronic bronchitis Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 426s Year: 2003 Does the presence of acute on chronic hyperventilation predict response to treatment in patients with chronic idiopathic hyperventilation Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 88s Year: 2003