Evaluation of the patient with chronic cough

Patients with chronic cough should avoid exposure to irritants that can trigger cough, and those who smoke should stop smoking. Patients who develop chronic cough in association with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy should be switched to an agent from another drug class. If cough persists, a chest radiograph should be ordered to rule out malignancy and other serious conditions. Postnasal drip syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are the most likely causes of chronic cough in adults. If postnasal drip syndrome is suspected, a trial of a decongestant and a first-generation antihistamine is warranted. Pulmonary function testing with a methacholine challenge is the preferred test for confirming the diagnosis of asthma. Gastroesophageal reflux disease usually is diagnosed based on the symptoms and after a trial of therapy. If the cause of chronic cough remains unclear, high-resolution computed tomographic scanning of the chest, bronchoscopy, and referral to a pulmonary specialist may be indicated. The approach to diagnosing chronic cough in immunocompromised patients and children is similar to the approach in immunocompetent adults. However, a CD4+ cell count can help determine the potential for opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Respiratory tract infections, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are the most common causes of chronic cough in children. Foreign body aspiration should be considered in young children. Congenital conditions, cystic fibrosis, and immune disorders are possible diagnoses in children with chronic cough and recurrent infection.     

老年患者慢性咳嗽病因构成及咳嗽严重程度分析

目的探讨老年与非老年组患者慢性咳嗽病因构成及咳嗽严重程度。方法 58例老年和82例非老年不明原因慢性咳嗽患者,按照慢性咳嗽的解剖学诊断程序,根据病史、体格检查、实验室检查及相关辅助检查明确病因,咳嗽积分评价咳嗽严重程度。结果老年组常见病因依次为：咳嗽变异性哮喘（CVA）23例,上气道咳嗽综合征（UACS）16例,胃食管反流性咳嗽（GERC）8例;非老年组常见病因依次为：CVA 31例,UACS 26例,GERC 10例。两组主要病因构成比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。两组患者各病因间的日间咳嗽积分比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,CVA的夜间积分明显高于其他病因（P均〈0.01）。结论与非老年组类似,CVA、UACS、GERC也是老年不明原因慢性咳嗽的常见病因,不同病因慢性咳嗽的日间咳嗽程度类似,但CAV夜间咳嗽程度显著高于其他病因的咳嗽。     

The cough from hell: diazepam for intractable cough in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

Cough is a common symptom in cancer. Its underlying cause should be managed when identified; otherwise, empiric treatment is the mainstay of symptom control. Cancer-related cough usually responds to radiation therapy, an opioid, or benzonatate, a peripheral anesthetic. We present the case of a patient with renal cell carcinoma hospitalized for intractable cough that failed to respond adequately to usual treatments, but improved with diazepam.     

Evaluation of the patient with syncope

The evaluation of the syncopal patient is often expensive and may not yield a specific diagnosis. An understanding of the cardiac and noncardiac causes of syncope can be helpful in making a specific goal-oriented evaluation of these patients.     

Evaluation of the patient with hematuria

There is little controversy regarding whether gross or visible hematuria requires complete upper and lower urinary tract evaluation. With regard to microscopic hematuria, investigators have disagreed on precisely which patients require a complete work-up. Most agree that older patients (> 40 years), patients with a history of cigarette use, and those with occupational exposure or history of chronic phenacetin use should absolutely undergo upper tract imaging, cystourethroscopy, and cytologic examination of the urine in addition to a thorough history and physical examination. A multidisciplinary group of oncologists, radiologists, urologists, and internists has published its recommendations as part of the American Urological Association best practice policy. The formal guidelines, which were distributed, rereviewed, and modified following a nationwide survey of clinicians, recommend complete urologic evaluation for all patients with microscopic hematuria who are over 40 years of age, and younger patients with a history suspicious for urologic disease. This identifies those at highest risk for malignancy while minimizing the number of evaluations in patients unlikely harboring significant disease.     

青年人慢性咳嗽的病因分布及诊断探讨

目的：分析不明原因的慢性咳嗽在青年学生中的病因分布,并探讨其诊断方法的有效性。方法：入选125例胸片正常的慢性咳嗽患者,以解剖学方法为基础,根据病史、临床表现、实验室检查及特异性治疗的反应,最后确定其病因诊断。结果：125例慢性咳嗽患者中,116例患者的病因得到明确（92.8%）。前三位病因依次为：鼻喉滴漏综合征,感染后咳嗽,变异性哮喘。经针对病因特异性治疗,105例患者（90.52%）的咳嗽症状明显减轻或消失。结论：鼻部疾病是青年学生中慢性咳嗽的重要因素。解剖学诊断程序是系统评价慢性咳嗽的方法,试验性病因治疗是确诊慢性咳嗽病因的重要手段。     

Depression and chronic fatigue in the patient with chronic pain

Chronic benign pain is commonly associated with chronic fatigue and depression. Depression and chronic fatigue syndrome are also associated with each other and often include pain. Psychologic factors are prominent in these conditions, and they may share neurobiologic factors as well. Management requires separately addressing each component of patients' distress and usually includes physical rehabilitation, education, administration of nonhabituating medications and often counseling. Depression may be a favorable prognostic sign, as it suggests a treatable condition and provides incentive for recovery.