DefinePK

Abstract

Objective: To identify and to know the features of somatic cough syndrome in children with chronic cough coming to CMH Kohat.
Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study.
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Kohat Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2023.
Methodology: All the children aged 4 to 12 years coming to CMH Kohat child out patient department with chronic cough were initially assessed by pediatricians and suspected cases with somatic cough were referred to psychiatry department. Their detailed assessment was done as per DSM-5 criteria and management was started.
Results: Out of 1451 children with chronic cough 30(2.04%) cases were diagnosed to have somatic cough. Among them 12(40%) were male and 18(60%) were female. Psychiatric comorbidity was seen in all cases of somatic cough syndrome (100%). Seven (23%) patients had anxiety, 5(16%) had conversion reaction, 11(36%) had depression and 7(23%) had psychosocial issues. 26(87%) responded only to behavioral therapy and 4(13.7%) needed both behavioral therapy and pharmacological intervention.
Conclusion: Somatic cough is a very important cause of cough not responding to general treatment measures and index of suspicion should be kept in mind because the parents keep on visiting the clinicians and it’s the responsibility of clinicians to pick them and send them for detailed psychiatric assessment. In areas like Kohat where families live together and houses are congested, this important etiology should be kept in mind.