The Diagnostic Value of Anatomic Protocol on the Causes of Chronic Cough

Objective To investigate the causes and spect rum of chronic cough.Methods The causes of consecutive 97 patients with chroni c cough were primarily evaluated with an anatomic diagnostic protocol and then d etermined by the specific therapy.Results the causes of cough were determined in 95 of 97(9 8%) patients.Cough variant asthma, postviral cough and postnasal drip syndrome a ccounted for 89% of all the causes of chronic cough.With a specific therapy,coug h disappeared within four weeks in most of the patients.Conclusion The anatomic diagnostic protocol is very usefu l in evaluation of chronic cough.Cough variant asthma,postviral cough and postna sal drip syndrome are in the most common causes of chronic cough.