Referral to emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • inhaled foreign body
  • respiratory distress leading to
    • apnoeic episode
    • cyanosis
    • dyspnoea
    • intercostal/subcostal retractions
    • tracheal tug
    • reduction of feeding volume, particularly in infants and young children with signs of clinical dehydration
    • stridor
  • haemodynamic instability

Please contact the on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Women's and Children's Health Network

Inclusions

  • bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis)
  • protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), defined as a pattern of daily wet cough for longer than 4 weeks duration which typically may occur after an initial viral illness, not responding to prolonged 2-week course of oral broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • aspiration syndromes e.g. chronic/feed related aspiration
  • non-resolution of a non-specific cough

Triage categories

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • chronic cough with any of the following concerning features
    • systemic symptoms such as fever, weight loss, faltering growth
    • feeding difficulties (including choking or vomiting)
    • stridor and other respiratory noises
    • abnormal clinical respiratory examination including clubbing
    • abnormal chest x-ray (CXR)
    • history of haemoptysis

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • episode of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) not responding to empirical treatment with 2 weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • recurrent pneumonia (≥ 2 per year)
  • dry cough present for > 8 weeks (if wet cough, > 4 weeks if no response to up to 2 weeks of empiric antibiotics) with normal CXR and spirometry (if accessible) and no improvement following treatment trial (see Clinical Management Advice)
  • bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis)
  • aspiration syndromes e.g. chronic/feed related aspiration

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • nil

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • relevant social history, including identifying within your referral if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population, under guardianship/out-of-home care arrangements and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter required
  • symptoms including duration, severity, associated syncope, incontinence, shortness of breath, paroxysm-related symptoms such as vomiting or colour change
  • presence or absence of concerning features
    • persistent fevers
    • night sweats
    • weight loss (include estimated amount)
    • haemoptysis
    • significant contacts with tuberculosis or pertussis
  • detailed medical history including history of asthma, atopy, rhinitis, ear, nose and throat problems, gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder
  • previous treatment and response
  • results of chest x-ray (CXR), spirometry, sputum sample (in children with wet cough able to produce a sample) and/or any blood tests
  • neonatal history including prematurity
  • weight and height/length
  • developmental assessment
  • coughing or gagging with oral intake
  • family history of cystic fibrosis
  • any environmental factors which may increase susceptibility to infection e.g. housing, environmental smoke, tobacco smoke exposure
  • any medication storage/administration needs, particularly if prolonged courses of antibiotics are expected to be required

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • relevant allied health/diagnostic/imaging reports, including location of company and accession number
  • consider pulmonary function tests if patient is > 6 years old pre and post bronchodilator, if able to access
  • consider CXR if clinically indicated e.g. suspicion of inhaled foreign body
  • symptoms including
    • any diurnal variation in severity e.g. nocturnal or positional
    • triggers e.g. air temperature, food, talking, exercise
    • swallowing difficulties
    • voice change

Clinical management advice

  • if suspected protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) (chronic wet cough with no signs or symptoms suggesting an alternative diagnosis):
    • treat with a 2–4-week course of oral antibiotics until resolution of wet cough
    • suggest empirical treatment with broad spectrum antibiotic such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 25mg/kg (max 875mg amoxicillin component) twice a day
    • if penicillin-allergic, consider azithromycin or co-trimoxazole
  • if suspected asthma, offer trial of salbutamol to assess for a clinical response
  • if non-specific dry cough with normal chest x-ray +/- spirometry and no signs or symptoms suggesting a diagnosis, it may be appropriate to adopt a watchful waiting approach
  • evaluate exposure to tobacco smoke and other pollutants, as well as reviewing parental expectations and concerns
  • consider blood tests for respiratory serology (pertussis and mycoplasma) for chronic dry cough
  • consider screening for immunodeficiency (baseline immunoglobulins) for chronic wet cough
  • note that tuberculosis (TB) may present as a chronic wet cough. If a patient from a high-risk population (e.g. Indigenous, migrant from TB endemic country) has a chronic wet cough, consider referral to Infectious Diseases or the Royal Adelaide Hospital TB clinic.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources