Table 4 Odds ratios for history, examination, and standard investigations in predicting the presence of specific cough in children.
| Historical pointer | No of patients with positive finding | No of patients with positive finding and specific cough | Odds ratio | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any historical pointer positive | 91 | 66 | 5.28* | 1.23 to 22.73 |
| Doctor observed moist cough | 71 | 59 | 9.34* | 3.49 to 25.03 |
| Chest examination abnormality | 38 | 32 | 3.60* | 1.31 to 9.90 |
| Any chest radiographic abnormality (including peribronchial thickening) | 61 | 48 | 3.16* | 1.32 to 7.62 |
| Any investigation abnormal† | 17 | 14 | 2.38 | 0.63 to 8.93 |
*Significant findings.
†Chest radiograph with major abnormality (peribronchial thickening abnormality excluded) or abnormal spirometry.