A Study to Identify and Characterise Bacteria Causing Chronic Cough Among Children in United Kingdom

Inclusion Criteria

• •Subjects who the investigator believes that parent(s)/ legally acceptable representative can and will comply with the requirements of the protocol.
• •A male or female child between, and including, six to 72 months of age at the time of enrolment.
• •Written informed consent obtained from the parent(s)/ legally acceptable representative of the subject.
• •No antibiotic therapy within four weeks prior to the visit.
• •No cystic fibrosis or known major immunodeficiency such as agammaglobulinaemia, T cell deficiency or Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
• •No documented evidence or suspicion of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• •No evidence of an upper viral respiratory infection four weeks prior to the visit.
• •In addition, all subjects regarded as 'cases' must satisfy all the following criteria at study entry:
• •Persistent cough greater than eight weeks.
• •No response to five-day prednisolone treatment.
• •Chest X-ray showing no evidence of a lobar pneumonia or gross structural abnormality.
• •In addition, all subjects regarded as 'controls' must satisfy the following criteria at study entry:
• •No respiratory symptoms four weeks prior to the visit.
• •No documented evidence or suspicion of lung disease upon physical examination.