Keele Research Repository

Chronic wet cough is the hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in older people and bronchiectasis in adults and older children. In young children, the commonest cause of chronic wet cough is protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) but there are large gaps in our understanding of this high prevalence condition. 1 These include the optimal treatment strategy to control symptoms, prevent recurrence, and reduce long-term morbidity. Such issues highlight the inequalities experienced by children with respiratory disease compared with affected adults. Addressing this imbalance to improve children's respiratory health is crucial, as we know early life factors, such as respiratory infections, are associated with reduced lung function that tracks with the child through adolescence and into adulthood.