Clinical Cough Features in Adults and Children with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

Abstract

Patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) often complain of cough and throat symptoms. We have extensively investigated the prevalence and characteristics of coughing and other symptoms in adults and children with JCP, through questionnaires in the pollen season from 2009 to 2011. According to the questionnaire, 29-44% of adults and 31-48% of children complained of coughing. There was neither significant differences in the prevalence of coughing between adults and children, and nor among three season. The severity of the coughing in each patient was almost mild or moderate. Particularly in children, productive cough was significantly more prominent, and throat symptoms were less found than those in adults. In 2009, total nasal symptom score was significantly higher in coughing patients rather than in ones without a cough. However, there were no correlations between coughing and throat symptoms with either adults or children in each year. These results may indicate that coughing in patients with JCP could be attributed to not only laryngeal allergy but also direct influence of nose inflammation. The difference in features of coughing between adults and children suggests the varied pathology in coughing by age.