Graham J Worrall1. 1. Dr William H. Newhook Memorial Health Centre, Whitbourne, NL A0B 3K0. gworrall@mun.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To record the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of acute coughs presenting in family practice. DESIGN: A case series of consecutive patients with acute cough as their main symptom. SETTING: Rural family practice clinic and walk-in centre. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred consecutive patients with cough, ages 1 to 90. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical diagnosis of the cause of the cough, management of cough, and whether patients returned for a second visit. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients had viral respiratory tract infections; 15 had asthma; 6 had influenza; 4 had pneumonia; and 2 had croup. Eighty-one patients needed no prescription medication; 13 were prescribed steroids or bronchodilators for asthma; and 6 were prescribed antibiotics. No prescriptions for cough suppressants or decongestants were written. Only 7 patients returned to the clinic; 2 were prescribed antibiotics, and the others had no change in treatment. CONCLUSION: Most patients with cough require reassurance rather than medications, as their cough is self-limiting. Of the minority that requires medication, twice as many will benefit from adjustment of asthma medication as from antibiotics.
OBJECTIVE: To record the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of acute coughs presenting in family practice. DESIGN: A case series of consecutive patients with acute cough as their main symptom. SETTING: Rural family practice clinic and walk-in centre. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred consecutive patients with cough, ages 1 to 90. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical diagnosis of the cause of the cough, management of cough, and whether patients returned for a second visit. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients had viral respiratory tract infections; 15 had asthma; 6 had influenza; 4 had pneumonia; and 2 had croup. Eighty-one patients needed no prescription medication; 13 were prescribed steroids or bronchodilators for asthma; and 6 were prescribed antibiotics. No prescriptions for cough suppressants or decongestants were written. Only 7 patients returned to the clinic; 2 were prescribed antibiotics, and the others had no change in treatment. CONCLUSION: Most patients with cough require reassurance rather than medications, as their cough is self-limiting. Of the minority that requires medication, twice as many will benefit from adjustment of asthma medication as from antibiotics.
Authors: Richard S Irwin; Michael H Baumann; Donald C Bolser; Louis-Philippe Boulet; Sidney S Braman; Christopher E Brightling; Kevin K Brown; Brendan J Canning; Anne B Chang; Peter V Dicpinigaitis; Ron Eccles; W Brendle Glomb; Larry B Goldstein; LeRoy M Graham; Frederick E Hargreave; Paul A Kvale; Sandra Zelman Lewis; F Dennis McCool; Douglas C McCrory; Udaya B S Prakash; Melvin R Pratter; Mark J Rosen; Edward Schulman; John Jay Shannon; Carol Smith Hammond; Susan M Tarlo Journal: Chest Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 9.410