Abstract

AMARO, Verónica et al. Chronic cough and recurrent otitis. Primary ciliary dyskinesia. Clinical case. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2020, vol.91, n.2, pp.90-95.  Epub Apr 01, 2020. ISSN 0004-0584.  https://doi.org/10.31134/ap.91.2.4.

Cough in childhood is a very frequent symptom and one of the most common reasons for consultation in pediatric practice. In most cases, it is secondary to mild respiratory infections, but if the symptom persists beyond 4 to 8 weeks, we should assess a case of chronic cough in order to rule out specific pathologies. For chronic persistent exudative and canalicular syndrome, and recurrent suppurative otitis, we should suspect rare chronic respiratory disease that needs a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). PCD is mainly an autosomal recessive inheritance disease, characterized by a structural defect of the ciliary cells, which mostly affects the respiratory and gonadal tissues. We hereby introduce the clinical case of a 13-year-old girl with catarrhal cough and serous chronic otitis since 6 months of age and diagnosed with PCD at 9 years of age through clinical assessment, imaging, transmission electron microscopy (MET) and genetic studies. Diagnostic confirmation methods are complex to carry out and interpret, and are only available at reference centers. Diagnostic delay leads to a poorer quality of life.

Keywords : Cough; Otitis; Dyskinesias.

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