Guide To Cough-Variant Asthma

Causes Of Cough-Variant Asthma

Unfortunately, research has yet to fully discover the core causes of cough-variant asthma. It is, however, associated with certain triggers. These include exposure to irritants or allergens, having a cold or sinusitis or other upper respiratory infections, exercise, using certain medications, and changes in the weather. There is a distinct link between allergies and asthma. Only twenty percent of patients with asthma lack nasal allergies, which means the remaining eighty percent suffer from allergic reactions to irritants. Allergies strike when the immune system is overreacting to a substance that regularly would not engender a reaction. This does offer the suggestion cough-variant asthma is linked to the immune system. It could also help to explain why this condition tends to respond well to the medicines effective in treating classic asthma.

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Process Of Diagnosis

Patients should seek a doctor's attention if a cough lingers for more than eight weeks without any known cause. Early treatment of cough-variant asthma may prevent complications or the development of chronic asthma. Cough-variant asthma is sometimes difficult to diagnose as the only symptom it presents with is a chronic cough, which can indicate various other health conditions. However, a study of 131 cases of patients who had chronic cough found twenty-four percent of these had cough-variant asthma. If other symptoms develop, such as a fever that rises above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, difficulty with the tolerating of physical activity, or coughing up blood, patients should see a doctor sooner than otherwise to rule out other conditions, such as bronchitis, sinus infections and other upper respiratory infections, post nasal drip, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergies, blood pressure medications, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tests can be used to rule out other conditions while in the process of diagnosis with cough-variant asthma.

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