TY - JOUR T1 - One hundred coughs JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 236 LP - 237 VL - 54 IS - 2 AU - Graham J. Worrall Y1 - 2008/02/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/54/2/236.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE To record the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of acute coughs presenting in family practice. DESIGN A case series of consecutive patients with acute cough as their main symptom. SETTING Rural family practice clinic and walk-in centre. PARTICIPANTS One hundred consecutive patients with cough, ages 1 to 90. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical diagnosis of the cause of the cough, management of cough, and whether patients returned for a second visit. RESULTS Seventy-three patients had viral respiratory tract infections; 15 had asthma; 6 had influenza; 4 had pneumonia; and 2 had croup. Eighty-one patients needed no prescription medication; 13 were prescribed steroids or bronchodilators for asthma; and 6 were prescribed antibiotics. No prescriptions for cough suppressants or decongestants were written. Only 7 patients returned to the clinic; 2 were prescribed antibiotics, and the others had no change in treatment. CONCLUSION Most patients with cough require reassurance rather than medications, as their cough is self-limiting. Of the minority that requires medication, twice as many will benefit from adjustment of asthma medication as from antibiotics. ER -