Clinical Assessment: 12-Year-Old Girl with Paroxysmal Dry Cough (5-6 Days), Weight 30 kg

Key Clinical Features

• Age: 12 years | Weight: 30 kg
• Duration: 5-6 days
• Character: Predominantly dry (non-productive)
• Severity: Paroxysmal - intense enough to cause facial flushing/redness
• No explicit wheeze or fever mentioned

Differential Diagnosis (Most Likely First)

1. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - HIGH SUSPICION

• Catarrhal phase (1-2 weeks): mild runny nose, mild cough - looks like a simple cold
• Paroxysmal phase (2-6 weeks): severe bouts of rapid coughing 5-10 times per breath, followed by an inspiratory "whoop," vomiting, and facial redness/cyanosis
• Convalescent phase: gradually decreasing cough

2. Cough-Variant Asthma / Reactive Airway Disease

3. Post-Viral / Post-Infectious Cough

4. Mycoplasma pneumoniae

5. Allergic/Atopic Cough / Post-nasal drip

6. Foreign Body Aspiration (less likely at this age but worth considering if sudden onset)

Immediate Evaluation

Treatment Plan

If Pertussis Is Suspected (or Confirmed)

• Day 1: 10 mg/kg = 300 mg (max 500 mg) as a single oral dose
• Days 2-5: 5 mg/kg = 150 mg (max 250 mg) once daily
• Total duration: 5 days

Antibiotic therapy is most effective when given early (within 3 weeks of cough onset). After the catarrhal phase, antibiotics reduce transmission but may not shorten illness duration.

Supportive Care (For All Causes)

• Adequate hydration - paroxysmal coughing increases fluid loss
• Honey (safe in children >1 year): 5-10 mL at bedtime for cough relief - evidence-based in children
• Avoid irritants: smoke, dust, cold air, strong odors
• Saline nasal irrigation if post-nasal drip component
• Elevation of head during sleep

If Cough-Variant Asthma Suspected

• Salbutamol (albuterol) MDI with spacer: 2-4 puffs (100 mcg/puff) every 4-6 hours as needed
• Montelukast: 5 mg/day at bedtime (for 10-14 years)
• Consider inhaled corticosteroid (e.g., budesonide 200 mcg/day) if asthma confirmed

Cough Suppressants

• Levodropropizine (if available) or dextromethorphan can be used cautiously for symptomatic relief in older children
• Avoid codeine-based cough syrups in children - not recommended

Red Flag Signs - Seek Immediate Care If:

• SpO2 <94% or cyanosis during coughing fits
• Apnea (pause in breathing) after coughing
• Poor feeding or signs of dehydration
• Seizure activity
• High fever with productive cough (suggestive of secondary bacterial pneumonia)

Summary

Important: This is clinical guidance only. A physical examination by a physician is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Management Protocol - 12-Year-Old Girl, 30 kg, Paroxysmal Dry Cough

Working Diagnosis: Pertussis (most likely) vs. Cough-Variant Asthma

STEP 1 - Immediate Investigations (Before Starting Treatment)

Start empirical treatment while awaiting reports if clinical suspicion is strong.

STEP 2 - Specific Treatment by Diagnosis

SCENARIO A: Pertussis Suspected / Confirmed

Drug 1: Azithromycin (FIRST-LINE - MANDATORY)

• AZEE 500 mg tablet (Cipla) - give 300 mg on Day 1 (just over half tab; use 250mg tab instead)
• Better: AZEE 250 mg (Cipla) - Day 1: 1 full tab + half tab (300mg) | Day 2-5: half tab (125mg ~ acceptable) OR use syrup

• Day 1: 7.5 mL (= 300 mg)
• Day 2-5: 3.75 mL (= 150 mg) once daily

Other equivalent brands: Azifast (Mankind), Zithromax (Pfizer), Atm (Sun Pharma), Azax (Sun Pharma)

SCENARIO B: Cough-Variant Asthma / Reactive Airway Disease

Drug 1: Salbutamol / Levosalbutamol (Bronchodilator)

• MDI (preferred): Salbutamol MDI 100 mcg/puff
  • 2-4 puffs every 6 hours with spacer
  • Brands: ASTHALIN INHALER (Cipla), VENTORLIN INHALER (GSK)
• Syrup (alternative): Levosalbutamol 1 mg/5 mL
  • Dose: 1-2 mg (5-10 mL) 3 times a day
  • Brands: LEVOLIN Syrup (Cipla), LEVASA Syrup (Lupin)

Drug 2: Montelukast (Leukotriene Antagonist)

• Dose: 5 mg once at bedtime (for 6-14 years)
• Duration: Minimum 4-6 weeks
• Brands: MONTAIR 5 mg tablet/chewable (Cipla), ROMILAST 5 mg (Ranbaxy/Sun), MONTEMAC 5 mg (Macleods)

Drug 3: Inhaled Corticosteroid (if confirmed asthma)

• Budesonide 200 mcg inhaler - 1 puff twice daily
• Brands: BUDECORT 200 INHALER (Cipla), PULMICORT (AstraZeneca)

STEP 3 - Symptomatic / Supportive Medicines (ALL Cases)

Cough Suppressant (for symptomatic relief of dry cough)

Use cough suppressant only at night to allow sleep. Do not suppress cough completely during daytime as it serves a protective function.

Antihistamine (if allergic component / post-nasal drip)

• Cetirizine 5-10 mg once at night
• Brands: ZYRTEC (UCB/J&J), CETCIP (Cipla), ALERID (Cipla)

Nasal Saline Drops/Spray (if post-nasal drip)

• NASIVION/OTRIVIN SALINE spray - 1-2 puffs each nostril twice daily

STEP 4 - General Supportive Measures

• Honey: 5-10 mL (1-2 teaspoons) at bedtime - evidence-based for pediatric cough; mix in warm water
• Oral hydration: increase fluid intake (warm water, soups, warm dal water)
• Steam inhalation: 5-10 minutes twice daily with plain warm water (no Vicks in inhaler for children)
• Head elevation at night: raise the top end of the bed or use extra pillow
• Avoid cold foods, ice cream, cold drinks, and dust/smoke exposure
• Rest from school: pertussis is highly contagious - child should stay home for minimum 5 days after starting antibiotics

STEP 5 - Household Contact Prophylaxis (If Pertussis)

• Azithromycin (same 5-day course, weight-based dosing)
• Brand: AZEE 500 mg tablet (Cipla) for adults - 500 mg Day 1, then 250 mg Days 2-5

STEP 6 - Follow-Up & Red Flags

• SpO2 drops below 94%
• Cyanosis (blue lips/fingernails) during coughing fits
• Apnea after coughing paroxysm
• Signs of dehydration (no urine >6 hours, dry mouth, sunken eyes)
• High fever >39°C developing (secondary bacterial pneumonia)

Quick Prescription Summary Card

Rx - 12-year-old / 30 kg (Pertussis + symptomatic cough)

1. Tab AZEE 250 mg (Cipla Azithromycin)
   Day 1: 1.5 tabs (300mg) once OD
   Day 2-5: 1 tab (250mg) once OD   [5 days total]
   
   OR Syrup AZEE 200 (30 mL bottle):
   Day 1: 7.5 mL OD | Day 2-5: 3.75 mL OD

2. Syrup BENADRYL DR (DXM 15mg/5mL)
   5 mL at bedtime x 5-7 days  [only if cough disturbing sleep]

3. Tab MONTAIR 5 mg (Cipla) 
   1 tab at bedtime x 4-6 weeks
   [add if asthma component suspected]

4. Tab ALERID 5 mg (Cetirizine - Cipla)
   Half tab at bedtime x 5-7 days
   [if allergic/post-nasal drip component]

5. ASTHALIN MDI (Salbutamol 100mcg/puff)
   2 puffs with spacer every 6 hours PRN
   [only if wheeze or reversible bronchospasm]

Supportive: Honey 1 tsp at bedtime, warm fluids,
steam inhalation BD, avoid cold food/smoke

Note: This prescription guide is for clinical reference only. A licensed physician should examine the child and confirm the diagnosis before prescribing. If pertussis is confirmed, notify the local public health authority as it is a notifiable disease in India.

Clinical Impression & Diagnosis

Patient Summary

• Predominantly dry, non-productive cough
• Paroxysmal in nature (intense bouts)
• Severe enough to cause facial flushing/redness during coughing fits
• No mention of fever, wheeze, or sputum

CLINICAL IMPRESSION

Paroxysmal dry cough in a school-age child, likely infective in etiology

PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

• Paroxysmal dry cough + facial flushing/redness = classic triad
• The "whoop" (inspiratory gasp after a coughing fit) may be absent or subtle in older children and adolescents - this does not exclude pertussis
• School-age children and adolescents are a well-recognized reservoir due to waning DTP/Tdap immunity (especially if last booster >5 years ago)
• The highly forceful, repetitive nature of the cough causing face to turn red is a red flag for pertussis specifically

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES (Ranked by Likelihood)

DIAGNOSIS CONFIDENCE

Pertussis (Clinical Diagnosis)       ████████░░  80%
Cough-Variant Asthma                 █████░░░░░  50%
Post-viral Reactive Cough            ████░░░░░░  40%
Mycoplasma pneumoniae                ███░░░░░░░  30%

These are not mutually exclusive. Pertussis + reactive airway disease can coexist.

What Would CONFIRM the Diagnosis?

Final Diagnosis to Write on Prescription/Case Sheet

DIAGNOSIS:

Probable Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - Paroxysmal Phase
[Early paroxysmal stage, Bordetella pertussis infection]

Secondary: Rule out Cough-Variant Asthma

Await: NP swab PCR B. pertussis + CBC with differential

The single most important differentiating feature in this case is the facial redness from intense paroxysmal coughing - this points strongly and almost exclusively toward pertussis among all the differentials in a 12-year-old with a dry cough of less than 1 week duration.