A study by He M. et al investigated the potential association between Helicobacter pylori (an H. pylori) positive state and chronic cough utilizing 278 patients with complaints of chronic cough and 148 healthy controls.

They found H. pylori-positive state in-

61.2% of the patients with chronic cough

68.9% of the patients with chronic refractory cough

43.9% of the healthy controls

They found significant improvement in 65.5% of the patients with chronic refractory cough after successful H. pylori eradication therapy.

Additionally, the patients with chronic cough who were exposed to H. pylori, showed reduced pulmonary function with a reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec by 84 ml, forced vital capacity by 53 ml and maximal vital capacity by 46 ml.

The chronic refractory cough group too showed significant difference.

Thus they concluded that H. pylori infection may be associated with chronic cough and with a decline in pulmonary function and reduced incidence of allergic conditions. Thus targeting H. pylori for the treatment of chronic cough may prove beneficial.

Source: He M, Zheng Y, Ma A, Zhang C, Yu Y, Wang H, Shen J. Helicobacter pylori is associated with weakened pulmonary function and reduced incidence of allergic conditions in patients with chronic cough. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2020; 20(5). https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9176