Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) is among the several critical pathogeneses of chronic cough. The common pathogens associated with UACS incorporate subsequent chronic airway inflammation theory, the early postnasal drip theory, and sensory neural hypersensitivity theory. The treatment of UACS differs worldwide despite it having common principles worldwide.
Like any other disease, UACS has symptoms; according to Huliraj (2014), throat clearing, postnasal drip sensation, nasal blockage, and upper respiratory illness such as cold. Additionally, UACS symptoms include coughing especially when an individual takes a deep breath, talks for long, or when one laughs. Wheezing, unpleasant throat sensation and production of too much mucus are also symptoms that a person is suffering from upper airways cough syndrome; sometimes a person’s voice is affected due to nasal blockage which is caused by excretion of excess mucus.
Bronchoprovocation is one of the tests used to determine whether a patient has upper airways cough syndrome or not. A device known as spirometer is used in the diagnosis of UACS (Lee, et al, 2017). In addition, mannitol provocation test is also used in the diagnosis of UACS; this type of diagnosis is safe and simple. Through the test, a doctor has access to the airways and this makes it possible to examine the reaction of the airways hence determine if one has UACS or not.
To treat UACS use of antihistamine combined with a decongestant is recommended. Antitussive agents like codeine and dextromethorphan can also be used especially when the cough persists and threatens the quality of life of the patients (Padma, 2013). Lastly, UACS can be treated by administration of corticosteroid spray as well as the use of antibiotics. UACS should be treated in its early stages because when it persists it becomes a threat to human life.
References
Huliraj, N. (2014). Diagnosis and Management of Dry Cough. Focus on Upper Airway Cough Syndrome and Postinfectious Cough. http://medind.nic.in/iaa/t14/i2/iaat14i2p879.pdf
Lee, M. et al (2017). Nonspecific Bronchoprovocation Test.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5617850/ Accessed May 27, 2019.
Padma L. (2013). Current Drugs for the Treatment of Dry Cough.