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

ABSTRACT

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.