There are quite a few population-based data on the epidemiology of recurring cough in children changing by age and sex, or in among children with and without wheeze. Cough affects quality of life in children.

The occurrence of cough with repetitive questionnaires was evaluated from early childhood to adolescence, in a population-based potential cohort study. Questions included were whether the child generally coughed more than the other children, with or without colds, or had night-time cough or cough was triggered by several factors related to increase breathing effort, allergic or any food triggers.

The occurrence was calculated from age 1 - 18 years by using a widespread measuring calculations for all children, and also for children with and without wheeze. Out of 7670 children, 69% coughed usually with a cold, 34% to 55% coughed without colds (age-dependently), 10% coughed more than other children, and 25% had night-time cough.

Occurrences of coughing more than peers, with colds and at night, and also stimulated by laughter were varied a little throughout childhood. Cough which was caused by exercise, cough without colds, or cough due to pollen or house dust turn into more recurrent with age. Cough was more common in boys as compared to girls in the 1^st decade of life. These differences got condensed in early teens and were overturned after the age of 14 years. All these symptoms were more common and common in children with wheeze.

The cohort study concluded that occurrence of cough in children varies with age, sex and with the questions that were used to assess it.

Source: PLoS One. 2017 May 24;12(5): e0177485. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177485. eCollection 2017.