Study of methacholine positivity in patients with chronic cough at Masih Daneshvari hospital, Tehran, 2007-2008

• Published in: Eastern Mediterranean health journal Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 369 - 372
• Main Authors: Cheraghvandi, A, Fadaizadeh, L, Taheri, S A, Masjedi, M R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - epidemiology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - diagnosis; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - epidemiology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - metabolism; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Chronic Disease; Cough - epidemiology; Cough - metabolism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Methacholine Chloride - metabolism; Middle Aged; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Sounds; Young Adult; Iran
• ISSN: 1020-3397; 1687-1634
• DOI: 10.26719/2013.19.4.369

While airways reactivity is among the characteristics of asthma, it is not considered a sufficient condition diagnostically and the methacholine challenge is a non-specific diagnostic aid in cases of chronic cough and reactive airways disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the metacholine response positivity and diagnosis of asthma in patients with chronic cough presenting to a hospital in Tehran during 2007 and 2008. Of 101 patients with chronic cough (with no history of sinusitis, recent pulmonary infection, bronchitis, gasteroesophageal reflux or underlying pulmonary conditions), 51.5% showed reactive airways disease to the methacholine test, 40.6% were unreactive and 7.9% were indeterminate. A positive methacholine challenge test was positively correlated with new wheezing. Although the methacholine challenge test is not a primary test for evaluating chronic cough, if no other reason for chronic cough is found, it may be a guiding test for asthma.