[Medical Q&A] Is cough variant asthma the same as typical asthma?

Author: He Meijuan, deputy chief physician of Jiangxi Children's Hospital

Reviewer: Li Lan, Chief Physician, Jiangxi Children's Hospital

Cough variant asthma is not an ordinary cough. It is a special type of asthma, characterized by persistent cough without typical asthma symptoms and signs such as wheezing or shortness of breath. Its main characteristics include: persistent cough for more than 4 weeks, worsening at night and/or early morning, coughing worsening after exercise or exposure to cold air, no signs of infection or ineffective long-term antibiotic treatment; cough symptoms are significantly relieved after diagnostic treatment with bronchodilators, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by combining lung function tests and allergy history.

Compared with typical asthma, cough variant asthma does not have obvious wheezing, but its pathogenesis is similar to that of typical asthma, which is chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness caused by immune, genetic and environmental factors.

Cough variant asthma may develop into typical asthma, but early intervention can reduce this risk. Understanding this disease is crucial for children's health. If a child has a persistent cough, they should see a doctor in time for proper diagnosis and treatment.