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Recommendation 2.8 Determine what triggers the cough • Children with asthma may cough with exercise (especially in cold air), excitement and at night. • Children with psychogenic coughs typical have increased cough when given attention by others and the cough disappears when the child is asleep. • Swallowing or post prandial cough suggests possibility of recurrent pulmonary aspiration. Recommendation 2.9 Determine if there is a family history of respiratory disorders •
A strong family history of asthma and other atopic disorders puts a child into the background that makes an asthma diagnosis more likely.
A history of TB or elderly relative with a cough is important for the diagnosis of TB. Recommendation 2.10 Determine what medication the child is on • Children treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may develop persistent cough (93, 94). • It is important to record what treatments have been used for the cough and what effect these have had.
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