A prolonged cough is a common and frequent problem in the public community. Numerous studies are conducted in the school setting and have found that almost 4.8% to 10.4% of children do suffer from prolonged cough. No consensual definition is available of prolonged cough. In this current guideline, prolonged cough is defined as a daily cough that lasts for more than three weeks. The literature review has still not identified any quality study on the aetiology of prolonged cough in children in primary care settings.

A diagnostic decision-tree that is based on the systematic literature review and with the expert opinion is projected. Doctors must seek signs associated with cough and of any serious underlying medical condition. Investigation of chronic productive purulent cough should always be conducted. A careful assessment of the effect of cough on the quality of life of the child is necessary. In the absence of signs of any specific underlying ailment, coughing is usually a self-limiting condition. Symptomatic treatments have still not proven to be very effective and most of them can cause serious side effects. Therefore, their use should be limited.

Source: Leconte S, Paulus D, Degryse J. Prolonged cough in children: a summary of the Belgian primary care clinical guideline. Prim Care Respir J. 2008 Dec;17(4):206-11. doi: 10.3132/pcrj.2008.00028. PMID: 18418499; PMCID: PMC6619877.