Morphine sulfate is an effective antitussive in intractable chronic cough at the doses of 5 to 10 mg twice daily.

Background: Chronic cough is a common symptom which causes significant levels of morbidity. It is becoming increasingly well characterised by research taking place in specialist cough clinics, where successful treatment rates are high. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the symptom complex of chronic cough in the community. This report details the results of a postal questionnaire survey sent to individuals requesting further information on chronic cough.

BackgroundOver 30% of adult patients with pleural infection either die and/or require surgery. There is no robust means of predicting at baseline presentation which patients will suffer a poor clinical outcome. A validated risk prediction score would allow early identification of high-risk patients, potentially directing more aggressive treatment thereafter.ObjectivesTo prospectively assess a previously described risk score (RAPID - Renal (urea), Age, fluid Purulence, Infection source, Dietary (albumin)) in adults with pleural infection.MethodsProspective observational cohort study recruiting patients undergoing treatment for pleural infection. RAPID score and risk category were calculated at baseline presentation. The primary outcome was mortality at 3 months; secondary outcomes were mortality at 12 months, length of hospital stay, need for thoracic surgery, failure of medical treatment, and lung function at 3 months.ResultsMortality data were available in 542 of 546 (99.3%) patients recruited. Overall mortality was 10% (54/542) at 3 months and 19% (102/542) at 12 months. The RAPID risk category predicted mortality at 3 months; low-risk (RAPID score 0–2) mortality 5/222 (2.3%, 95%CI 0.9 to 5.7), medium-risk (RAPID score 3–4) mortality 21/228 (9.2%, 95%CI 6.0 to 13.7), and high-risk (RAPID score 5–7) mortality 27/92 (29.3%, 95%CI 21.0 to 39.2). C-statistics for the score at 3 and 12 months were 0.78 (95%CI 0.71 to 0.83) and 0.77 (95%CI 0.72 to 0.82) respectively.ConclusionsThe RAPID score stratifies adults with pleural infection according to increasing risk of mortality and should inform future research directed at improving outcomes in this patient population.

Gastroesophageal disease, a common cause of chronic cough, is often poorly recognised. We reviewed the presenting history of 47 chronic cough patients who had been proven to have gastroesophageal disease by oesophageal function testing. Fourty-seven patients (26 female), were enroled. Symptoms which were most common included: cough on phonation, on rising from bed, associated with certain foods or with eating in general. Symptoms known to be associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux, such as throat clearing, dysphonia, globus and dysphagia were also associated. Heartburn or indigestion was present in 63% of those questioned. These data show that symptoms associated with reflux in chronic coughers differ from those commonly perceived to be characteristic of classical heartburn-associated reflux. These data suggest that, contrary to previous reports, a symptom complex which is characteristic of reflux cough can be identified.