Chronic or recurrent cough in children--a presentation of asthma?

Thirty-five children between the ages of one year and 11 years who presented with chronic or recurring cough over a two-year period were treated for asthma. They were given bronchodilator syrup for a trial period of one month. All the children improved symptomatically.It is suggested that any child with a persistent cough or recurring cough should be given bronchodilator syrup even in the absence of wheeze and particularly when there is a family history of asthma. This might result in the early diagnosis of unrecognized asthma and help to reduce the amount of unnecessary antibiotics and cough linctus that these children receive.