Cough quality in children: a comparison of subjective vs. bronchoscopic findings

摘要: Cough is the most common symptom presenting to doctors. The quality of cough (productive or wet vs dry) used clinically as well in epidemiology and clinical research. There however no data on validity descriptors. study aims were compare (1) (wet/dry brassy/non-brassy) bronchoscopic findings secretions tracheomalacia respectively and, (2) parent's clinician's evaluation (wet/dry). children (without a known underlying respiratory disease) undergoing elective bronchoscopy was independently evaluated by clinicians parents. A 'blinded' clinician scored seen at pre-determined criteria graded (1 6). Kappa (K) statistics for agreement, inter-rater intra-rater agreement examined digitally recorded cough. receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve determine if related amount airway present bronchoscopy. Median age 106 (62 boys, 44 girls) enrolled 2.6 years (IQR 5.7). Parent's assessment (wet/dry) agreed with clinicians' (K = 0.75, 95%CI 0.58–0.93). When compared (bronchoscopic secretion grade 4), had highest sensitivity (0.75) specificity (0.79) marginally better than parent(s). area under ROC 0.85 (95%CI 0.77–0.92). Intra-observer 1.0) inter-clinician wet/dry 0.88, 0.82–0.94) very good. Weighted K grades 0.95 0.87–1). Sensitivity brassy (for tracheomalacia) 0.57 0.81 respectively. both intra inter-observer 0.79 0.73–0.86). Dry children, determined parents has good validity. Clinicians should be cognisant that dry may have minimal mild secretions. Brassy physicians highly specific tracheomalacia.