Inhaled nedocromil sodium for persistent cough in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Persistent cough in children is a common and often challenging condition.
• Identifying effective treatments for pediatric persistent cough is crucial for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of inhaled nedocromil sodium (NS) in treating persistent cough in children.
• To assess patient and physician perceptions of treatment effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A study involving children aged 4-12 years with persistent cough (>1 month duration).
• Participants underwent a 2-week baseline period with an asthma diary.
• Eligible children received inhaled nedocromil sodium (4mg qid for 2 weeks, then 4mg bd for 4 weeks).
• Cough scores and treatment perceptions were recorded.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in cough scores was observed after 2 weeks of treatment (p < 0.01) and was sustained at 6 weeks (p = 0.01).
• 42% of recruited children met treatment criteria, with 48 children completing the study.
• Patient and parent perception of efficacy (72%) was more favorable than physician perception (50%) (p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Inhaled nedocromil sodium (NS) demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing persistent cough in children.
• The treatment shows sustained effectiveness over a 6-week period.
• NS may be a viable therapeutic option for managing persistent cough in pediatric populations.