Hyperresponsiveness of cough receptors in patients with bronchial asthma.

The hyperresponsiveness of cough receptors was evaluated using the acetic acid inhalation test in healthy adults, patients with bronchial asthma, and children with or without cough. The concentration of acetic acid inducing cough was more than 20% in all 16 healthy adults and 18 children in the control group. There were two groups of asthmatic patients: Those in group 1 showed normal response to more than 20% acetic acid (n = 46), and those in group 2 showed a sensitive reaction to less than 10% (n = 11). Mean age was 9.0 +/- 4.2 years in group 1 and 15.1 +/- 7.6 years in group 2 (statistical significance, P less than .001). Six of 11 asthmatic patients in group 2 were classified as nonallergic asthmatics, whereas only five of 46 patients in group 1 were nonallergic (P less than .01). Bronchoconstriction was not induced in any case, in spite of the production of cough. It is suggested that the hyperresponsiveness of individual cough receptors without the stimulation of irritant receptors be evaluated.