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Occupational and Environmental Exposures and Their Role in Chronic Cough

  • Chronic Cough (K Altman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review the mechanisms by which occupational and environmental factors can contribute to chronic cough and to discuss the approach to diagnosis and management of these patients with review of recent publications in this area.

Recent Findings

An Expert Panel Report from the American College of Chest Physicians in 2016 addressed this topic. Recent publications improve understanding of mechanisms of effects.

Summary

Inhaled dust, fumes, gases, and vapor can cause an irritant or inflammatory response in upper and lower airways leading to cough. Physico-chemical properties, exposure conditions, and host factors can influence effects. Particles ≤ 5 μm mass mean aerodynamic diameter are more likely to reach and affect the terminal lung units and the sinuses. Type I, type III, and type IV hypersensitivity responses contribute to diseases causing chronic cough. Improved diagnostic and immunologic tests are needed for many causative exposures such as home or work fungal exposures.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital EW7-449, 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Susan M. Tarlo

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  1. Susan M. Tarlo
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Correspondence to Susan M. Tarlo.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Tarlo reports personal fees from Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, grants from Centre for Research Excellence in Occupational Diseases, outside the submitted work, and Dr. Susan Tarlo is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians Expert Panel on Cough.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Chronic Cough

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Tarlo, S.M. Occupational and Environmental Exposures and Their Role in Chronic Cough. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 7, 100–105 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-019-00242-0

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