Experts To Focus Cough As A Clinical Problem in Forthcoming Conference

Cough is the single most common reason why patients go to their doctor. At least 12% of the US population, a staggering 36 million people, experience cough symptoms on a daily or weekly basis.

Patients with cough may be divided into those with acute, and those with chronic cough. Acute cough represents the largest single cause of consultation in primary care, whereas chronic cough is one of the commonest presentations in respiratory medicine.

Chronic cough has both physical consequences e.g. incontinence, sleep disturbance and psychological consequences e.g. problems with a spouse and social isolation. Untreated, cough also has a major economic impact for both the sufferer and society due to loss of employment, healthcare utilization and psychosocial morbidity. Cough may be caused by asthma and an asthma-like syndrome characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the airways, post-nasal drip and esophageal disease, particularly acid reflux.

The importance of cough as a clinical problem will be addressed by leading experts from around the world during the Second American Cough Conference, June 12 – 13, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson. Chaired by Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, a pulmonologist from Montefiore Cough Center, New York, NY, the American Cough Conference will provide a state-of-the-art update on the evaluation and management of cough including diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, and ongoing clinical and basic research.

According to Dr. Dicpinigaitis "Cough is of particular relevance to physicians and patients since it is one of the most common symptoms of asthma, and in a subgroup of patients with the condition known as cough-variant asthma, it may be the only presenting symptom, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge"

Dr. Dicpinigaitis has attracted an impressive faculty of national and international experts from all corners of the globe, including Australia, Lithuania, UK, Ireland and Italy.

This continuing education meeting will be held June 12 – 13 at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson and is open to all interested healthcare professionals.

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Source-Newswise
LIN