Comparison of a Protective Cough Syrup Against Placebo on Night Cough in Children 1-5 Years Coughing Since 1- 2 Days Due to Common Cold

The intervention product is a medical device in Europe due to its non-pharmacological mode of action, which makes the product compliant to the medical device definition. It is made of specific extracts of plants (plantago and thymus) which provide the product with protective characteristics of the oropharynx. These protective features enable the syrup to reduce the irritative cough promoting stimuli on the throat, which decrease urge to cough threshhold. In addition to these extract, honey completes the formula. The product does not contain any artificial component and no preservatives.

The placebo intervention is a syrup of same taste and colour without the natural protective components but with the necessary synthetic preservatives and other co-sweeteners to guarantee quality and safety. The placebo has, in fact, all the features of a cough syrup since true placebo syrup is not possible in cough. The lack of specific natural protective components is weighed against the presence of other necessary substances which may still have an effect on cough, but this effect is not envisaged to be a specific protective effect.