peri bronchial thickening

[emmasean]

I have had this persistent bad cough for 22 months. Never smoked. Cough to the point sometimes I vomit and people abuse me in public transport or in Doctor's Surgeries so I am given a mask to wear. This coughing is very severe and disturbing to myself and others. I am always sent for x rays which show peri bronchial thickening and told there is nothing to worry about. Spirava, ventolin and other inhalers have no affect and I often have people calling an ambulance to take me to hospital and put on one of their machines, but they do not help. Surely there is a treatment for this as it is ruining my life. Please help me. Thank you.

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

What you describe must be a very disturbing situation and I can appreciate how your saying “it is ruining my life” is not an exaggeration.  More X-rays are not the answer and “peri-bronchial thickening” is not a valid explanation.  Establishing the cause of a chronic, severe cough is not always easy and, from your description, it appears that your doctors have exhausted their diagnostic capabilities.  What you need and what I strongly recommend is a thorough diagnostic evaluation of your respiratory system and your upper gastrointestinal system by doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough.

Such specialists are to be found in Cough Clinics at the majority of University Hospital Medical Centers; that is, associated with Medical Schools.  Not knowing where you live, I cannot make specific recommendations but the following may be helpful.


Finding the cause(s) of chronic cough can be perplexing even for experts in this field but, with the advent of formal cough clinics,  the rate of success has increased significantly in recent years.  The best known of these is that directed by Dr. Richard Irwin and associates at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Mass.  But there are other high quality centers including the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, the University of Michigan Medical Center at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and National Jewish Health (formerly National Jewish Medical and Research Center) in Denver, Colorado (disclaimer, I am a member of the Medical Staff at this institution).

Good luck

[emmasean]

Thank you very much for your reply. Unfortunately I live in Australia. I intend to see a Respiratory Specialist in December. I hope I gat the help I need.