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- Page navigation anchor for Cough Duration: Method and TheoryCough Duration: Method and TheoryShow More
To the editor:
This is a significant paper describing a well-designed study investigating evidence and expectations regarding the duration of "acute cough illness" (ACI).[1] It actually describes two sub-studies, one a random digit dial telephone survey carried out in the U.S. state of Georgia, the other a systematic review of literature regarding the duration of ACI. The main reported finding is that there "is a...Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Author response: What is the denominator?Author response: What is the denominator?Show More
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree that we have no way of knowing whether the persons seeking care (and therefore ending up in a study of acute bronchitis) are typical of all patients with acute cough illness. It is certainly possible that those with milder symptoms (and perhaps a shorter duration of illness) were less likely to seek care. It is also possible that even if symptoms are milder, the duration is...
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Mismatch between patient expectations and clinical data?Mismatch between patient expectations and clinical data?Show More
In their important study (1), Ebell et al. note that they are unaware of data regarding physician knowledge of the natural history of acute cough illness. I agree, and further: Do we know the natural history of acute respiratory tract infections? In a small study from an isolated population in Norway, we concluded that every tenth episode of respiratory tract infections in children was presented to a doctor (2). The traje...
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for A new tool to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use.A new tool to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use.Show More
Bravo, Mark.
I have long suspected that the typical patients I see in the office with an acute respiratory infection cough for more than one week. In fact, when patients see me on, say, day 7 or day 10 of their acute respiratory infection, and after a normal exam of their lungs, I can confidently tell them their illness is following a normal course and will resolve without treatment. Without any hard data to su...
Competing Interests: None declared.