Preview

Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council

Advanced search

An integrated approach to the treatment of acute productive cough

https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-500

Abstract

Acute cough is most often a benign self-resolving condition. The main causes of acute productive cough include acute bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and exacerbation of bronchial asthma. Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a viral and viral-bacterial infection, and is an exceptional diagnosis that requires laboratory examination, radiography, and spirometry. For the assessment of both chronic and acute cough, the following tools can be used: Visual Analog Scale for cough severity (VAS), Cough Symptoms Score (CSS), Cough Severity Diary (CSD), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Cough Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (CQLQ), Cough Severity Diary (CSD), Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q), and the Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS). Using the example of a clinical case, the article discusses an algorithm for diagnosing acute bronchitis and its treatment in accordance with modern recommendations. Coughing causes a number of complications, including a negative impact on the quality of life. Mucoactive drugs are used to treat productive cough, which are classified according to the mechanism of their action and the integration of mucus. They are grouped into four different classes: expectorants, mucokinetics, mucoregulators, and mucolytics. Additionally, bronchodilators are used for airway obstruction. In most cases, combined mucoactive drugs are effective. Antitussive drugs based on medicinal plants are low-toxic and effective cough treatments. Using the example of a clinical case, the effectiveness of the herbal medicinal product Bronchipret® has been demonstrated. The results of clinical studies confirming the efficacy and safety of the use of two dosage forms of Bronchipret® (syrup, tablets) in adults and children are presented.

About the Author

N. V. Orlova
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Россия

Natalia V. Orlova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Professor of Department of Faculty Therapy of Institution of Higher Education

1, Ostrovityanov St., Moscow, 117997



References

1. Parker SM, Smith JA, Birring SS, Chamberlain-Mitchell S, Gruffydd-Jones K, Haines J et al. British Thoracic Society Clinical Statement on chronic cough in adults. Thorax. 2023;78(Suppl. 6):s3–s19. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220592.

2. Pratter MR, Brightling CE, Boulet LP, Irwin RS. An empiric integrative approach to the management of cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2006;129(1 Suppl.):222S–231S. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.222S.

3. Orlova NV. Complex therapy of acute respiratory diseases. Meditsinskiy Sovet. 2019;(15):91–97. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/2079-701X-2019-15-91-97.

4. Солдатов ДГ. Диагностические вопросники и шкалы. В: Чучалин АГ (ред.). Респираторная медицина. М.: ПульмоМедиа; 2024. C. 375–394. https://doi.org/10.18093/987-5-6048754-9-0-2024-1-375-393.

5. Irwin RS, French CL, Chang AB, Altman KW; CHEST Expert Cough Panel. Classification of Cough as a Symptom in Adults and Management Algorithms: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2018;153(1):196–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2017.10.016.

6. Avdeev SN, Nevzorova VA, Kinyakin MF, Kudelya LM, Molchanova OV, Khelimskaya IV et al. Possibilities of diagnosing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in clinical practice: conclusion of the Council of Experts of the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts. Pacific Medical Journal. 2017;(4):25–30. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17238/PmJ1609-1175.2017.4.25-30.

7. Авдеев СН, Зайцев АА, Лещенко ИВ, Визель АА, Малявин АГ, Синопальников АИ и др. Острый бронхит у взрослых: клинические рекомендации. 2024. Режим доступа: https://diseases.medelement.com/disease/острый-бронхит-у-взрослых-кр-рф-2024/18487.

8. Rogers DF. Mucoactive agents for airway mucus hypersecretory diseases. Respir Care. 2007;52(9):1176–1193. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17716385.

9. Okovity SV, Zaitsev AA, Anisimova NA. Pharmacodynamic approaches to the use of mucoactive drugs. Lechaschi Vrach. 2020;(10):6–10. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26295/OS.2020.62.62.001 .

10. Kardos P, Dinh QT, Fuchs KH, Gillissen A, Klimek L, Koehler M et al. German Respiratory Society guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of adults suffering from acute, subacute and chronic cough. Respir Med. 2020;170:105939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105939.

11. Zaytsev AA, Okovityi SV. Cough: differential diagnosis and rational pharmacotherapy. Terapevticheskii Arkhiv. 2014;(12):85–91. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/ 10.17116/terarkh2014861285-91.

12. Schaefer A, Kehr MS, Giannetti BM, Bulitta M, Staiger C. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, multi-center trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a liquid containing ivy leaves dry extract (EA 575) vs. placebo in the treatment of adults with acute cough. Pharmazie. 2016;71(9):504–509. https://doi.org/10.1691/ph.2016.6712.

13. Kemmerich B, Eberhardt R, Stammer H. Efficacy and tolerability of a fluid extract combination of thyme herb and ivy leaves and matched placebo in adults suffering from acute bronchitis with productive cough. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arzneimittelforschung. 2006;56(9):652–660. https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0031-1296767.

14. Greunke C, Hage-Hülsmann A, Sorkalla T, Keksel N, Häberlein F, Häberlein H. A systematic study on the influence of the main ingredients of an ivy leaves dry extract on the β2-adrenergic responsiveness of human airway smooth muscle cells. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2015;31:92–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2014.09.002.

15. Patil SM, Ramu R, Shirahatti PS, Shivamallu C, Amachawadi RG. A systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Thymus vulgaris Linn. Heliyon. 2021;7(5):e07054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07054.

16. Seibel J, Kryshen K, Pongrácz JE, Lehner MD. In vivo and in vitro investigation of anti-inflammatory and mucus-regulatory activities of a fixed combination of thyme and primula extracts. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2018;51:10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2018.04.009.

17. Seibel J, Pergola C, Werz O, Kryshen K, Wosikowski K, Lehner MD, Haunschild J. Bronchipret® syrup containing thyme and ivy extracts suppresses bronchoalveolar inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in experimental bronchoalveolitis. Phytomedicine. 2015;22(13):1172–1177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2015.09.001.

18. Drewitz KP, Bittner CB, Piontek K, Plach M, Abels C, Apfelbacher CJ. Predictors for change in cough-related quality of life and symptom severity in acute cough: results of an observational pharmacy-based study. J Thorac Dis. 2025;17(7):4600–4609. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-2024-1972.

19. Kardos P, Bittner CB, Seibel J, Abramov-Sommariva D, Birring SS. Effectiveness and tolerability of the thyme/ivy herbal fluid extract BNO 1200 for the treatment of acute cough: an observational pharmacy-based study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2021;37(10):1837–1844. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2021.1960493.

20. Geppe NA, Kolosova NG, Shatalina SI, Sazanova DA. Efficacy of phytotherapy in respiratory viral infections accompanied by cough in children. Clinical Practice in Pediatrics. 2023;18(2):45–53. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.20953/1817-7646-2023-2-45-53.

21. Nisevich LL, Namazova LS, Volkov KS, Vazhnova IM, Botvinyeva VV, Zubkova IV, Filyanskaya EG. Are antibiotics always necessary for the treatment of prolonged cough in children? Pediatric Pharmacology. 2008;5(3):64–71. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.pedpharma.ru/jour/article/view/859.


Review

For citations:


Orlova NV. An integrated approach to the treatment of acute productive cough. Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council. 2025;(20):166-173. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-500

Views: 174

JATS XML


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2079-701X (Print)
ISSN 2658-5790 (Online)