Cough: Causes, Mechanisms and Therapy

Preface.

Section 1: Introduction.

1 The clinical and pathophysiological challenge of cough.

2 Epidemiology of cough.

3 A brief overview of the mechanisms of cough.

Section 2: Cough in the clinic.

4 Clinical assessment of cough.

5 Measurement and assessment of cough.

6 Cough sensitivity: the use of provocation tests.

7 Causes, assessment and measurement of cough in children.

8 The quality of life in coughers Section 3: Clinical conditions with cough.

9 Cough in lower airway infections.

10 Cough in gastro-oesophageal reflux.

11 Cough in postnasal drip, rhinitis and rhinosinusitis.

12 Cough and airway hyperresponsiveness.

13 Cough in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

14 Cough in suppurative airway diseases.

15 Cough in cancer patients.

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Section 4: Pathophysiology.

16 Sensory pathways for the cough reflex.

17 Neurogenesis of cough.

18 Plasticity of vagal afferent fibres mediating cough.

19 Motor mechanisms and the mechanics of cough.

20 Mucus hypersecretion and mucus clearance in cough.

21 Animal models of cough.

Section 5: Therapy.

22 Mechanisms of actions of centrally acting antitussives - electrophysiological and neurochemical analysis.

23 Pharmacology of peripherally acting antitussives.

24 Current and potential future antitussive therapies.

25 Placebo effects of antitussive treatments on cough associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection.

26 Mucoactive agents for the treatment of cough.

27 Management of cough.

Index