CICADA Technical report

The Cough in Children and Adults: Diganosis, Assessment and Management (CICADA) is an updated Australia position statement on cough management in the clinical consultation. This update was undertaken from March 2021 – June 2022 by the CICADA Expert Committee. The CICADA Technical Report is a comprehensive supporting document developed to underpin the updated CICADA Position Statement on chronic cough in children and adults. Created through a multidisciplinary collaboration of respiratory health experts, clinicians, researchers and consumers, this technical report provides a detailed summary of the rigorous literature review and methodology that informed the updated clinical guidance. Using a systematic approach aligned with PRISMA guidelines, the CICADA Technical Report documents the evidence base behind prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, and management strategies for chronic cough. The report distinguishes between paediatric and adult chronic cough presentations, with specific search strategies and inclusion criteria applied to each population. Chronic cough is defined as lasting more than four weeks in children and more than eight weeks in adults, and may be linked to a variety of conditions, including asthma, post-infectious inflammation, reflux, protracted bacterial bronchitis, eosinophilic bronchitis, or unexplained cough hypersensitivity.

The Technical Report outlines search methods for different areas of clinical importance, including the role of multidisciplinary care teams, culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and diagnostic approaches for specific age groups. Data was drawn from multiple databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE, with over 6,000 articles initially screened and 277 peer-reviewed studies ultimately included. The document details the levels of evidence supporting different recommendations and highlights gaps in existing research. For SEO relevance, this report reinforces best-practice care for chronic cough in primary and specialist settings, supports health system readiness, and encourages evidence-based, culturally safe clinical care pathways. It serves as a vital resource for health professionals, policymakers and researchers aiming to improve the diagnosis and management of chronic cough and reduce unnecessary treatment, misdiagnosis, and patient burden across Australia.