Semantics and types of cough

Abstract

The panel considered the different types of cough in terms of basic mechanisms and clinical manifestations; both experimentally and clinically cough could occur in single efforts and as 'bouts' or 'epochs'. There were different definitions of cough but, provided the definition used was clear, this did not seem to be a major concern.The methods available for determining the nature or type of clinical cough were discussed, in particular automated cough counting in the clinic and more sophisticated methods available in the laboratory. With regard to semantics, there has been great variation in the names used; this applies to nervous sensors for cough, to cough reflexes and epochs, to clinical names for cough, and to cough sounds. Some simplification and uniformity of nomenclature seemed desirable although, provided the use of a name was clear, little confusion probably existed. The panel felt that the cough nomenclature would evolve with time and would prove to be useful for investigators, clinicians and coughers.

A 57-year-old chronic cougher with somatically evoked cough

“…Interestingly, some recent lines of evidence [10,11] have suggested that the cough reflex sensitivity is inhibited by chest wall vibration in healthy adults [12], pointing to a reflex inhibitory mechanism originating from skin or bone receptors. The cough modality described here, however, pertains to a patient with chronic cough, and likely represent a case of "allotussia", according with current semantics of cough [12]; nonetheless, the mechanisms sub-serving its origin and neurophysiological basis are largely obscure. The skin and the skeletal muscle are innervated also by thin myelinated and unmyelinated neural fibres [13].…”

Subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions: cultural adaptation to Portuguese population

“…The results concerning the parameter "cough" also suggests some dif iculties in its classi ication, either by caregivers as by experts. In fact, it seems that there is no consensus in literature regarding the semantics of cough, since the classi ication of cough may depend on its cause, duration, behaviour or characteristics (27).…”

Pharmacologic Management of Cough

“…While chronic cough is associated with significant morbidity and quality of life issues6, dystussia is life-threatening29, 30. Dystussia and atussia8 represent a breakdown in endogenous mechanisms for airway protection. We define airway protection as the prevention and/or correction of aspiration.…”

“…In patients with acute stroke or Parkinson's disease, those with dysphagia and aspiration also have profound dystussia8, 35. Furthermore, the risk of aspiration due to dysphagia can be predicted by several mechanical features of voluntary cough in stroke patients29, 30.…”

“…This review will focus on some new information on antitussives. The review is expanded to include the potential therapeutic impact of enhancement of cough in patients that suffer from dystussia8, or impaired cough.…”