COUGH SENSITIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA, RECURRENT COUGH, AND CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

In adults, cough sensitivity is influenced by gender and is heightened in those with non-productive cough. This study examined if cough sens itivity is (i) altered in children with asthma, recurrent cough, and c ystic fibrosis and (ii) influenced by age, gender, or forced expirator y volume in one second (FEV1). Cough sensitivity to capsaicin and spir ometry were performed on 209 children grouped by the diagnosis of asth ma, recurrent dry cough, cystic fibrosis, and controls. Cough sensitiv ity was increased in children with recurrent cough, and lower in child ren with cystic fibrosis when compared with children with asthma and c ontrols. Age influenced cough sensitivity in the controls. In the asth matics, FEV1 (% predicted) correlated to cough sensitivity measures. T here was no gender difference in cough sensitivity. It is concluded th at cough sensitivity is different among children with recurrent dry co ugh, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. In children, age, but not gender, in fluences cough sensitivity measures and when cough sensitivity is used in comparative studies, children should be matched for age and FEV1.