Consistent Cough

Respiratory Symptoms of Cow'S Milk Protein Allergy.

Cough is a reflex action of the respiratory tract that is used to clear the upper airways.¹

Chronic cough is a cough which lasts for more than three weeks and is a common reason for referral to secondary care.¹

What Causes
Consistent or
Chronic Cough in
Infants?

A consistent cough that does not go away could be related to an environmental trigger or to a pathogen/infection.¹ Environmental triggers might include exposure to cigarette smoke or to pollution.

However, there are also illnesses that can cause a consistent or chronic cough including asthma, bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), postnasal drip syndrome or rhinosinusitis.¹

Could It Be a
Symptom of Cow’s Milk
Protein Allergy?

CMPA can be suspected in infants who display immediate symptoms of cough following the ingestion of cow’s milk/dairy proteins.^2,3 The presence of a respiratory infection, as a cause of chronic cough needs to be ruled out before proceeding with the diagnosis.

However, when considering the diagnosis of CMPA, it’s important to note that the majority of these infants have at least two symptoms affecting at least two different organ systems.^4-6

Therefore, it is important to consider the individual child as well as the magnitude of their symptoms. This can be achieved using an awareness tool such as the Cow’s Milk Related Symptom Score (CoMiSS™) which will help you determine if CMPA might be indicated.^7,8