Cough Index App

Respiratory diseases, caused for example by Mycoplasma, are always accompanied by coughing. Therefore, it is essential to pay close attention to coughs in pens: How many animals are coughing, how often are they coughing, and are there any other symptoms? The evaluation of the frequency of coughing is difficult, subjective, and depends on personal experience. For this reason Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica developed a Cough Index App: By using the mobile phone it is possible to easily and objectively measure the number of coughs in pens.

The self-explanatory Cough Index App counts cough bouts. A cough bout is defined as a single cough or an episode of coughing (two or more cough attacks from one animal within 5 seconds). As a result the user receives a cough index.

The usage of the app is simple:
      Firstly the measured group, for example pen 5, section A, has to be inserted into the app. The number of observed animals should at least be 20 per count. Before the first count, the user has to chase the pigs for one minute. By clicking on “start” the app is started: For the next three minutes the user has to tap onto the screen by every single cough.

For a solid recording at least one repetition is necessary, so two sets of counts are recorded. Afterwards, the cough index for the group appears below the button „calculate index”. If the number is in red, the cough index is above 2,5. If the number appears in green the index lies below 2,5. It is technically documented that a cough index above 2,5 indicates respiratory problems/diseases.
      The Cough Index App is an objective way to measure the cough intensity and is therefore a comfortable method to use to get a good overview on respiratory problems. This observation is a good base for developing together with your veterinarian a treatment plan of for checking the current vaccination program. The Cough Index App is available on the Play Store (Android) and on the App Store (Apple). The download of the app is free of charge.