Survey on attitudes of Italian pediatricians toward cough

Figures & data

Table 1 Geographical distribution of requests for consultations in patients with chronic cough

Specialist consulted	Overall Italy (n=293)	Italian areas			Overall p-valuea
		Northern (n=87)	Central (n=62)	Southern (n=144)
Allergologists	213 (72.7%)	65 (74.7%), p=0.598	44 (71.0%), p=0.680	104 (72.2%), p=0.923	0.866
Otorhinolaryngologists	182 (62.1%)	44 (50.6%), p=0.012	41 (66.1%), p=0.339	97 (67.4%), p=0.123	0.030
Pneumologists	97 (33.1%)	38 (43.7%), p=0.064	27 (43.5%), p=0.094	32 (22.2%), p<0.001	0.001
Gastroenterologists	52 (17.7%)	10 (11.5%), p=0.351	6 (9.7%), p=0.175	36 (25.0%), p=0.002	0.006

Notes: p-values compare the frequency within each area versus the total frequency observed in Italy (hierarchical log-linear model).

a Pearson’s chi-square test.

Table 2 Main causes of acute cough within each Italian area as reported by respondents (overall p=0.013 among the three Italian areas; Pearson’s chi-square test)

Main causes of cough	Overall Italy (n=300)	Italian areas
		Northern (n=90)	Central (n=66)	Southern (n=144)
Viral infections	134 (44.7%)	40 (44.4%), p=0.897	22 (33.3%), p=0.016	72 (50.0%), p=0.012
URTIs	92 (30.7%)	19 (21.1%), p=0.048	24 (36.4%), p=0.944	49 (34.0%), p=0.034
LRTIs	22 (7.3%)	8 (8.9%), p=0.672	6 (9.1%), p=0.976	8 (5.6%), p=0.695
Allergic rhinitis/asthma	44 (14.7%)	21 (23.3%), p=0.039	10 (15.2%), p=0.492	13 (9.0%), p=0.221
Others	8 (2.7%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.664	4 (6.1%), p=0.116	2 (1.4%), p=0.314

Note: p-values compare the frequency within each area versus the total frequency observed in Italy (hierarchical log-linear model).

Abbreviations: LRTIs, lower respiratory tract infections; URTIs, upper respiratory tract infections.

Table 3 Main causes of chronic cough within each Italian area reported by respondents (overall Pearson’s chi-square test=ns).

Main causes of cough	Overall Italy (n=300)	Italian areas
		Northern (n=90)	Central (n=66)	Southern (n=144)
Viral infections	12 (4.0%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.384	8 (12.1%), p=0.002	2 (1.4%), p=0.076
URTIs	62 (20.7%)	20 (22.2%), p=0.876	14 (21.2%), p=0.979	28 (19.4%), p=0.893
LRTIs	33 (11.0%)	9 (10.0%), p=0.554	12 (18.2%), p=0.119	12 (8.3%), p=0.268
Bacterial infections	9 (3.0%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.795	1 (1.5%), p=0.546	6 (4.2%), p=0.255
Allergic rhinitis/asthma	160 (53.3%)	49 (54.4%), p=0.801	27 (40.9%), p=0.284	84 (58.3%), p=0.255
Gastroesophageal reflux	16 (5.3%)	4 (4.4%), p=0.595	4 (6.1%), p=0.737	8 (5.6%), p=0.839
Others	8 (2.7%)	4 (4.4%), p=0.143	0, p=0.178	4 (2.8%), p=0.473

Note: p-values compare the frequency within each area versus the total frequency observed in Italy (hierarchical log-linear model).

Abbreviations: LRTIs, lower respiratory tract infections; ns, not significant; URTIs, upper respiratory tract infections.

Table 4 First-line treatment indicated by pediatricians for acute cough, stratified according to the different Italian areas, and the causes of acute cough

First line treatments	Overall Italy (n=300)	Italian areas			Causes of acute cough
		Northern (n=90)	Central (n=66)	Southern (n=144)	Allergic rhinitis/asthma (n=44)	Viral infections (n=134)	URTIs (n=92)	LRTIs (n=22)	Others (n=8)
None	24 (8.0%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.016	10 (15.2%), p=0.004	12 (8.3%), p=0.616	0, p=0.314	20 (14.9%), p=0.046	2 (2.2%), p=0.194	0, p=0.517	2 (25.0%), p=0.015
Aerosol therapy	79 (26.3%)	21 (23.3%), p=0.904	12 (18.2%), p=0.211	46 (31.9%), p=0.134	18 (40.9%), p=0.005	27 (20.1%), p=0.388	30 (32.6%), p=0.262	4 (18.2%), p=0.781	0, p=0.155
Oral corticosteroids	30 (10.0%)	10 (11.1%), p=0.250	3 (4.5%), p=0.102	17 (11.8%), p=0.292	6 (13.6%), p=0.201	10 (7.5%), p=0.007	10 (10.9%), p=0.361	2 (9.1%), p=0.945	2 (25.0%), p=0.296
Symptomatics	53 (17.7%)	14 (15.6%), p=0.686	6 (9.1%), p=0.079	33 (22.9%), p=0.048	0, p=0.237	33 (24.6%), p=0.012	20 (21.7%), p=0.011	0, p=0.407	0, p=0.833
Antibiotics	66 (22.0%)	21 (23.3%), p=0.749	25 (37.9%), p=0.005	20 (13.9%), p=0.001	18 (40.9%), p=0.006	20 (14.9%), p=0.066	16 (17.4%), p=0.427	12 (54.5%), p=0.010	0, p=0.148
Phytotherapics	48 (16.0%)	22 (24.4%), p=0.017	10 (15.2%), p=0.857	16 (11.1%), p=0.029	2 (4.5%), p=0.203	24 (17.9%), p=0.316	14 (15.2%), p=0.401	4 (18.2%), p=0.558	4 (50.0%), p=0.070
Overall p-valuea	–	p<0.001			p<0.001

Notes: p-values compare the frequency within each area versus the total frequency observed in Italy (hierarchical log-linear model).

a Pearson’s chi-square test.

Abbreviations: LRTIs, lower respiratory tract infections; URTIs, upper respiratory tract infections.

Table 5 First-line treatment indicated by pediatricians for chronic cough, stratified according to the different Italian areas, and the causes of chronic cough

First line treatments	Overall Italy (n=300)	Italian areas			Causes of chronic cough
		Northern (n=90)	Central (n=66)	Southern (n=144)	Allergic rhinitis/asthma (n=160)	Viral Infections (n=12)	URTIs (n=62)	LRTIs (n=33)	Bacterial infections (n=9)	Gastroesophageal reflux (n=16)	Others (n=8)
None	12 (4.0%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.174	4 (6.1%), p=0.137	6 (4.2%), p=0.989	6 (3.8%), p=0.668	0, p=0.999	2 (3.2%), p=0.788	0, p=0.571	0, p=0.968	0, p=0.686	4 (50.0%), p=0.575
Aerosol therapy	114 (38.0%)	31 (34.4%), p=0.472	19 (28.8%), p=0.834	64 (44.4%), p=0.283	98 (61.3%), p<0.001	0, p=0.307	8 (12.9%), p=0.616	6 (18.2%), p=0.169	0, p=0.328	2 (12.5%), p=0.986	0, p=0.669
Oral corticosteroids	9 (3.0%)	3 (3.3%), p=0.871	1 (1.5%), p=0.699	5 (3.5%), p=0.725	4 (2.5%), p=0.353	2 (16.7%), p=0.069	2 (3.2%), p=0.801	1 (3.0%), p=0.877	0, p=0.801	0, p=0.478	0, p=0.778
Symptomatics	12 (4.0%)	2 (2.2%), p=0.282	2 (3.0%), p=0.825	8 (5.6%), p=0.288	4 (2.5%), p=0.388	0, p=0.784	6 (9.7%), p=0.122	0, p=0.395	0, p=0.816	2 (12.5%), p=0.219	0, p=0.766
Antibiotics	125 (41.7%)	38 (42.2%), p=0.451	36 (54.5%), p=0.094	51 (35.4%), p=0.183	38 (23.8%), p=0.385	10 (83.3%), p=0.131	42 (67.7%), p=0.036	24 (72.7%), p=0.024	7 (77.8%), p=0.360	2 (12.5%), p=0.067	2 (25.0%), p=0.157
Homeopathic/herbal remedies	10 (3.3%)	8 (8.9%), p=0.010	0, p=0.250	2 (1.4%), p=0.572	2 (1.3%), p=0.076	0, p=0.776	2 (3.2%), p=0.814	2 (6.1%), p=0.337	2 (22.2%), p=0.057	0, p=0.484	2 (25.0%), p=0.771
Gastroprotectants	18 (6.0%)	6 (6.7%), p=0.926	4 (6.1%), p=0.631	8 (5.6%), p=0.626	8 (5.0%), p=0.618	0, p=0.833	0, p=0.133	0, p=0.435	0, p=0.865	10 (62.5%), p<0.001	0, p=0.722
Overall p-valuea	–	p=0.025			p<0.001

Notes: p-values compare the frequency within each area versus the total frequency observed in Italy (hierarchical log-linear model).

a Pearson’s chi-square test.

Abbreviations: LRTIs, lower respiratory tract infections; URTIs, upper respiratory tract infections.