Abstract
A thorough anamnesis and the physical examination of a patient with cough mostly lead
the way to the further diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. As far as there are no
obvious reasons for the cough symptoms, any case of persisting chronic cough needs
a diagnostic clarification – including computed tomography of the thorax and bronchoscopy
as the final step. If clinical findings make them necessary, also invasive diagnostic
procedures – such as bronchoscopy, thoracoscopy and surgical biopsy of the lung –
must not be avoided. According to the clinical presentation appropriate medical disciplines
have to be consulted for the diagnostic clarification of chronic cough. Besides pulmonology
und allergology these are ENT medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, infectiology,
neurology and possibly psychiatry. The therapy of chronic and acute cough should be
aimed at a causal treatment approach.
Während akuter Husten meist durch eine Atemwegsinfektion verursacht wird, stellt der
chronische Husten oft eine differenzialdiagnostische Herausforderung dar. Dieser Artikel
schildert anhand eines konkreten Falls die aufwendige Diagnostik, die gegebenenfalls
zur Abklärung des chronischen Hustens erforderlich ist. Danach werden die wichtigsten
Differenzialdiagnosen des chronischen Hustens näher betrachtet und die therapeutischen
Optionen aufgezeigt.
Schlüsselwörter
Husten - Hustensymptome - Hustendiagnostik - Differenzialdiagnosen Husten - Biologika
Key words
cough - cough symptoms - cough diagnosis - differential diagnosis of cough - biologicals
