Cough: An Interdisciplinary Problem, An Issue of Otolaryngologic Clinics

Highlighting the advances made in managing cough, this title presents issues such as paradoxical vocal fold motion, disordered breathing, irritable larynx, evolution of the vagus as a protective circuit, the importance of cough in deglutition, and surgical interventions.

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Both acute and chronic cough are responsible for a significant number of ambulatory medical visits annually. The recent comprehensive understanding that "cough” is a reflection of underlying disease pays tribute to the multifactorial causes, as well recognition of the respiratory and upper digestive tract as a "physiologic unit.” This publication highlights the advances made in managing cough and brings these to otolaryngology practitioners in a concise forum, as well as presenting issues of special interest to laryngologists such as paradoxical vocal fold motion, disordered breathing, irritable larynx, evolution of the vagus as a protective circuit, the importance of cough in deglutition, and surgical interventions. Some of the topics include: The cough reflex, sensory receptors, and neurogenic mediators; Mucus and mucins; Cough and Swallowing dysfunction; Cough due to asthma, cough-variant asthma, and nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis; Occupational, environmental, and irritant induced cough; Pharmacologic management; Unexplained cough; Cough in the pediatric population; and Rhinogenic laryngitis, cough and the unified airway; among others.