Chronic cough--about a clinical case.

Abstract

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is the third most frequent cause of chronic cough. The diagnosis is not easy, especially when gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) has extra-oesophageal manifestations. The treatment is based on behavioural, pharmacological or surgical measures. The patient, aged 20 years, was a chronic smoker and since 2004 had a chronic cough. Therefore she had repeatedly been treated by several physicians with different antibiotics for respiratory infections. The family doctor in 2008 decided to investigate this cough. After investigation of the cardiorespiratory tract revealed no changes, the family doctor investigated the upper digestive tract. An endoscopy diagnosed gastro-oesophageal reflux. The patient was treated with pantoprazole 40 mg, with symptomatic relief. One important issue is that the patient went to see her family doctor instead of resorting to complementary consultations. It is also necessary to emphasize the need to think of the extra-oesophageal manifestations of GORD.