Sesame oil use in ameliorating cough in children: a randomised controlled trial.

Project description

OBJECTIVES:
To examine the role of sesame oil (SO) in reducing the frequency and severity of acute cough in children 2-12 years of age.

DESIGN:
Double blind, placebo controlled randomised trial.

SETTING:
Seven primary health care centres/clinics in Lebanon. A total of 107 children between the age of 2 and 12 years with cough secondary to common cold were enrolled.

INTERVENTION:
Five milliliters of SO or placebo by mouth at bed time.

OUTCOME MEASURES:
Cough strength and frequency as judged by parents on a four points Likert scale after giving three syrup doses over three consecutive nights. Analysis was performed on an intention to treat basis.

RESULTS:
At day 1, the effect size for cough frequency and cough strength were +0.26 (95%CI -0.64,+0.12) and +0.15 (95%CI -0.53, +0.23), respectively. SO decreased cough symptoms more than placebo but these were not statistically significant. The effect size decreased from days 1 to 3. Cough symptoms improved over the 3 days both in SO and placebo group. No evidence of undesirable effects were noted to SO.

CONCLUSION:
Like other over the counter antitussives, SO did not result in marked improvement in cough symptoms.

Researchers

First name Last name Gender Rank Affiliated Institution Country
Bassem Saab Male American University of Beirut Lebanon

Bio:

Website

 

Scientific field

Medicine
 

Start Year

2002
 

End Year

2003
 

Social impact

Are you interested in disseminating your research work outside the academic institutions?

No

Are there institutions/organizations contacted you to disseminate your research project?

No

How did you disseminate your research work outside academic institutions?

What obstacles have you faced as you tried to facilitate the social impact of your research?