Chronic wet cough, like many chronic conditions, is associated with an increased burden on families and the health care system. Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) is a common condition found in approximately 40% of children with chronic (>4weeks) cough. Protracted bacterial bronchitis is defined as chronic wet cough (>4 weeks) without specific cause which resolves on appropriate antibiotics. Research has shown that this protracted bacterial bronchitis is associated with airway neutrophilia and endobronchial infection on bronchoalveolar lavage. Children are recruited into the study at the time of a bronchoscopy for clinical investigation of chronic wet cough
Aim:
• To determine the aetiology of chronic wet cough in childhood.
• To describe the economic burden of chronic wet cough to families and the healthcare system.
• To determine presence/absence of bronchiectasis 3 years after entry into study
• To improve understand of the innate immune response associated with chronic wet cough in children
Funding / Grants
- NHMRC Project Grant
Chief Investigators
- Professor John Upham
- Professor Peter Gibson
- Dr Stephanie Yerkovich
- Dr Katie Baines
- Professor Sarah Hodge
- Dr Susan Pizzutto
- Dr Helen Buntain
- Associate Professor Ian Masters
