ETIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM AND CLINICAL PATTERNS OF COUGH IN PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A CHEST DISEASES HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Cough is one of the most common presenting complaints to the healthcare providers all over the world, including Pakistan. Although the so-called persistent cough is most often harmless, it may also be a sign of an underlying respiratory, cardiac or alimentary disease, and it must be approached for an etiological diagnosis and adequate treatment.

Objectives: To determine the etiological pattern, demographic profile and clinic radiological profile of adult patients presenting with cough to tertiary care centres.

METHODS: One hundred adult patients complaining of cough were studied at Chest Diseases Hospital Kotri, Sindh. From every patient, demographic data, duration of cough, associated symptoms, comorbidities and final clinical diagnosis were recorded on a structured questionnaire.

Results: Cough was diagnosed as acute respiratory tract infection (32%), chronic bronchitis and COPD (21%), asthma (15%), post-nasal drip syndrome (11%), GERD (9%) and tuberculosis (8%). 46% of patients had a history of smoking. The patients in the cohort were mostly men (56%) and aged between 30 and 60.

Conclusions Cough can be symptomatic of diverse diseases, ranging from transient self-limited infections to chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and TB. Meticulous clinical examination is crucial in arriving at the diagnosis and to prevent empirical therapy.

How to cite: Das T. Etiological spectrum and clinical patterns of cough in patients presenting to a chest diseases hospital. Hyd J Sci. 2025; 1(8): 3-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17095385