Ch 48: Cough and Hemoptysis

Question 1

What is meant by the term “subacute cough”?

Answer 1

cough symptoms that last 3 to 8 weeks in duration

Question 2

What are the 4 most common causes of chronic cough when initial assessment with chest examination and radiography is normal?

Answer 2

cough-variant asthma
gastroesophageal reflux
nasopharyngeal drainage
medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors)

Question 3

What is Arnold’s nerve?

Answer 3

Arnold’s nerve is the auricular branch, also known as the mastoid branch, of the vagus nerve (CN X)

[From https://radiopaedia.org/articles/arnolds-nerve-2]

Question 4

The list of diseases that can cause persistent cough without other symptoms and without detectable abnormalities on physical examination is long. It includes serious illnesses such as…..

Answer 4

…..sarcoidosis or Hodgkin’s disease in young adults, lung cancer in older patients, and (worldwide) pulmonary tuberculosis.

Question 5

What is the mechanism of ACE-inhibitor-associated cough?

Answer 5

ACE metabolizes bradykinin. The mechanism of ACE inhibitor–associated cough may involve sensitization of sensory nerve endings due to accumulation of bradykinin.

Question 6

Cough-variant asthma typically responds well to…

Answer 6

…inhaled glucocorticoids and intermittent use of inhaled β-agonist bronchodilators.

Question 7

Case series have reported benefit from off-label use of what two drugs for chronic idiopathic cough?

Answer 7

gabapentin and amitriptyline

Question 8

The most common etiology of hemoptysis is…

Answer 8

…infection of the medium-sized airways.

Question 9

Worldwide, the most common cause of hemoptysis…

Answer 9

…is infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Question 10

If an infection results in cavitation, there is a greater likelihood of bleeding due to…

Answer 10

…erosion into blood vessels.