Children with Cough Variant Asthma: What are the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options?

The primary symptom of cough-variant asthma, a kind of bronchial asthma, is a dry, unproductive cough. Children who have asthma with a cough-variant do not have the "classic" symptoms of asthma, such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Cough variant asthma is typically detected much later than classic asthma, which results in the kid experiencing symptoms. Children also receive unneeded regimens of antibiotics, cough medicines, and nebulizer treatments.

What are the telltale signs and symptoms of asthma in children with a cough variant?

Children who have a cough that lasts longer than 4-6 weeks frequently have cough-variant asthma.

Asthma coughs might happen throughout the day or at night. Children with asthma with a cough-variant cough more often after exercise or when exposed to allergens or asthma triggers such as dust, smoking, deodorants or fragrances, cold air, etc. Children with asthma cough variation experience sleep interruptions during the night.

Read More: Do you have a home that welcomes asthma?

Cough-Variant Asthma is diagnosed in what ways?

The sole symptom of cough-variant asthma is a cough, and the other traditional symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing and shortness, are not present. This makes the diagnosis challenging. It's essential to additionally take into account other persistent cough reasons, such as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bacterial bronchitis, TB, etc.

A thorough medical case history is gathered, and your kid is examined, including having their breath heard. Most youngsters with asthma that is cough-variant get routine physical examinations.

A chest X-ray and a lung function test are basic examinations.

Spirometry and impulse oscillometry is used in lung function assessment. Children older than 5 to 6 years old can undergo spirometry, sometimes referred to as the blowing test. This entails inhaling into a spirometer while blowing into it. The results of a spirometry test reveal how quickly and how much air a youngster can exhale after taking a deep breath.

After administering a bronchodilator, the test is repeated to see whether the results have changed. Spirometry indicates poor FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio values in children with cough variant asthma, which will improve with bronchodilator medication.

As an advanced lung function modality that requires slow, regular breathing into the oscillometry apparatus, impulse oscillometry can be used on children as young as 3 years old. Children with asthma exhibit elevated resistance levels, which improve after taking bronchodilator medication.

The test findings are ambiguous in several instances. A trial of asthma medications is indicated in such circumstances. Cough-variant asthma is diagnosed when there is a noticeable improvement in symptoms.

The treatment for cough-variant asthma:

Asthma caused by a cough is often treated in the same way as regular asthma. The youngster would require an inhaler with inhaled steroids or montelukast as asthma preventative medication (anti-inflammatory agents).

Read More: What are the symptoms of Chronic Asthma?

Some kids could also need short-term bronchodilator treatment. Over the course of 1-2 weeks, asthmatic symptoms gradually improve.

For an accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment if your kid has a chronic or persistent cough, see a pediatric pulmonologist.

If you're unsure about who to contact, just reach out to Dr. Pankaj Gulati, a Pulmonologist in Jaipur without thinking twice. He is the greatest specialist and offers the best asthma care. Discuss the issue with him, and he will undoubtedly suggest the best course of action for you. His clinic's name is Breath Clinic.