Cough Variant Asthma: Symptoms, Triggers, and Treatment

Date: Nov-16-2016 Cough variant asthma is a type of asthma that is marked by a dry, nonproductive cough. Unlike other types of asthma, a person suffering from cough variant asthma often has no traditional asthma symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath.

A cough is the most common reason why people seek medical attention in the United States.

Even though cough variant asthma (CVA) doesn't share more symptoms with regular asthma, it affects the body in several similar ways:

Increases the risk of developing other allergic diseases

Increases sensitivity of the airways

Narrows and swells the airways, which disrupts air flow

Classic asthma generally has more serious implications than CVA. However, 30 to 40 percent of adults with cough variant asthma go on to develop classic asthma. As a result, it is vital to recognize the signs and symptoms so that proper treatment can be sought.

Contents of this article:

Causes of cough variant asthma

Symptoms of cough variant asthma

Diagnosis of cough variant asthma

Treatment and prevention

Causes of cough variant asthma

CVA may appear after exposure to allergens or sinusitis.

The causes of cough variant asthma are not entirely understood.

However, it often appears after:

Exposure to allergens

Breathing in cold air

An upper respiratory infection like sinusitis

Starting to take beta blockers, a type of drug that treats high blood pressure, heart disease, and migraines

Taking aspirin

There is a clear link between asthma and allergies. As many as 80 percent of all asthma sufferers also have nasal allergies. As allergies are a result of the immune system overreacting to a substance that should not normally cause a reaction, there may be an immunology link to cough variant asthma as well.

Risk factors

Certain people may be at a high risk for developing cough variant asthma and other allergic diseases. Knowing the risk factors for cough variant asthma and if a patient has them may help a doctor to make a diagnosis.

Risk factors include:

Having another allergic condition

Having regular asthma

Having a relative with asthma

Being overweight

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke

Exposure to environmental or occupational irritants

Symptoms of cough variant asthma

Unlike classic asthma, cough variant asthma often has no other symptoms besides a chronic cough that doesn't produce mucus. A chronic cough is any cough that lasts more than 8 weeks in adults and more than 4 weeks in children.

Complications

Cough variant asthma is not serious on its own but may progress into classic asthma.

Cough variant asthma is not often serious on its own. However, suffering from a chronic cough can be disruptive.

A cough from cough variant asthma may cause:

Sleep disruption

Exhaustion

Cracked or fractured ribs

Vomiting

Lightheadedness

If cough variant asthma is not treated and managed properly, it may also progress into classic asthma. Cough variant asthma itself is not serious, but classic asthma can be.

Classic asthma symptoms include the following symptoms in addition to a cough:

Difficulty breathing

Chest tightness

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Asthma attacks, episodes where air cannot reach the lungs due to airway narrowing

Classic asthma can have some serious complications. It's critical for a patient with cough variant asthma to get treatment to stop these complications from happening.

Complications can include things that disrupt the quality of life like fatigue and absence from work. Serious and potentially life-threatening complications can include:

Permanent narrowing of the bronchial tubes

Pneumonia

Collapsed lung

Asthma attacks that don't respond to treatment

Lung failure

Diagnosis of cough variant asthma

It is not easy to know when to seek medical help for cough variant asthma. In general, the only symptom is a chronic cough.

People should see a doctor for a chronic cough if it lasts for more than 8 weeks with no known cause. If any of the following symptoms develop, people should see a doctor sooner to rule out other conditions or prevent cough variant asthma from progressing:

A fever of over 100°F

Wheezing

Shortness of breath

Because the main symptom is a chronic cough, it may be difficult for a doctor to diagnose it.

Other conditions or factors that cause a chronic cough can include:

Bronchitis and other upper respiratory infections

Post nasal drip

Acid reflux and GERD

Blood pressure medications

COPD and chronic bronchitis

To diagnose cough variant asthma, other conditions that can cause a persistent cough must be ruled out.

As patients with cough variant asthma often have normal chest X-rays and spirometry tests, doctors may carry out a methacholine challenge. When inhaled, methacholine triggers coughing and bronchial spasms in everyone. However, an increased sensitivity to methacholine can indicate asthma.

If a doctor strongly suspects cough variant asthma, they may skip the methacholine test and prescribe asthma treatments. If cough symptoms improve with use of the asthma medications, the provider will diagnose cough variant asthma.

Treatment and prevention

Inhalers are frequently used to treat asthma.

The treatment for cough variant asthma is the same as the treatment for classic asthma. The right treatments vary by patient and can include a combination of the following:

Inhaled corticosteroids or inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs that ease and prevent swelling in the airways

Rescue inhalers or inhalers that reduce inflammation quickly in the case of an asthma attack

Combination inhalers that combine both preventive medicines and fast-responding medicines

Preventive oral medications that work to keep the airways open

Preventing cough variant asthma symptoms from flaring is the best treatment. People who are prescribed medications to prevent asthma symptoms should follow their doctor's orders to prevent episodes and keep cough variant asthma from worsening.

Steps can also be taken to reduce the risk of developing asthma. To lower the risk of developing asthma, people should:

Maintain a healthy weight

Know their personal risk factors

Manage any allergic conditions properly

Quit smoking

Avoid secondhand smoke and other environmental and occupational irritants

Outlook

While 30 to 40 percent of patients with cough variant asthma go on to develop classic asthma, some have no complications. While asthma is a lifelong condition, most asthma patients can lead normal, active lives if the condition is controlled with medications.

The more severe and less well-managed the asthma is, the more likely a patient will suffer long-term consequences.

Written by Jenna Fletcher

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.