Does failed chronic wet cough response to antibiotics predict bronchiectasis?

Arch Dis Child. 2014 Jun;99(6):522-5. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2013-304793. Epub 2014 Feb 12.

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether a child with chronic wet cough and poor response to at least 4 weeks of oral antibiotics is more likely to have bronchiectasis.

Methods: All chest multi-detector computerised tomography (MDCT) scans at a single paediatric tertiary hospital from April 2010 to August 2012 were reviewed retrospectively so as to identify those ordered by respiratory physicians for assessment of children with a chronic wet cough. Information regarding age, sex, ethnicity, indication for imaging and the response to at least 4 weeks of antibiotics before having the scan were recorded from their charts. The data were analysed using simple and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Of the 144 (87 males) eligible children, 106 (65 males, 30 Indigenous) aged 10-199 months had MDCT scan evidence of bronchiectasis. Antibiotic data were available for 129 children. Among the 105 children with persistent cough despite at least 4 weeks of antibiotics, 88 (83.8%) had bronchiectasis, while of the 24 children whose cough resolved after antibiotics, only six (25.0%) received this diagnosis (adjusted OR 20.9; 95% CI 5.36 to 81.8). Being Indigenous was also independently associated with radiographic evidence of bronchiectasis (adjusted OR 5.86; 95% CI 1.20 to 28.5).

Conclusions: Further investigations including a MDCT scan should be considered in a child with a chronic wet cough that persists following 4 weeks of oral antibiotics. However, while reducing the likelihood of underlying bronchiectasis, responding well to a single prolonged course of antibiotics does not exclude this diagnosis completely.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Bronchiectasis; Chronic Wet Cough; Respiratory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Australia
  • Bronchiectasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cough / diagnostic imaging
  • Cough / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents