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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-2236v1 134/2/303    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Marchant, J. Articles by Chang, A. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Marchant, J. Articles by Chang, A.

What is the burden of chronic cough for families?

¹Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital,Brisbane, Australia ²School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia ³School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia ⁴Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Canada ⁵University of Queensland, Child and Family Mental Health Unit, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia ⁶Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia

jmarchant{at}ausdoctors.net

Abstract

BackgroundThe burden of children's chronic cough to parents is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the burden of chronic cough using a purposely designed questionnaire; (2) evaluate psychological (child's anxiety and parental emotional distress) and other influences on the reported burden of cough.

MethodsParents of children newly referred for chronic cough completed 3 questionnaires (Spencer anxiety scale, depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) and burden of cough questionnaire) at enrolment. The last 79 parents also completed these questionnaires at follow-up.

ResultsThe median age of the 190 children recruited was 2.6 years. The number of medical consultations for their coughing illness in the last 12 months was high: >80% of children had 5 doctor visits and 53% had >10. At presentation, burden scores correlated to parental DASS scores when their child was coughing. Stress was the largest contributor to parents' emotional distress. Parental anxiety and depression scores were within published norms. Scores on all three DASS subscales reduced significantly when the children ceased coughing. At follow-up, the reduction in burden scores was significantly higher in the ‘ceased coughing' group (n=49) compared to the ‘still coughing' group (n=32).

ConclusionsChronic cough in children is associated with a high burden of recurrent doctor visits, parental stress and worries which resolves when cough ceases. Parents of children with chronic cough did not have above average anxiety or depression levels. This study highlights the need to improve the management of children with chronic cough, including clinicians being cognisant of the emotional distress of their parents.

Key Words: chronic cough • children • stress • burden • quality of life • depression • anxiety