Impact of cough on quality of sleep and effect of anti-tussive treatment in children: An observational study

Background: Cough is one of the most frequent symptoms in children and is the most common symptom for which children are visited by primary care paediatricians. Methods: We studied 433 children who required a paediatrician specific consultation for acute cough and analyzed quality of sleep and anti–tussive treatment. Results: The mean age of the children was 6.1 years (DS 3.6). Cough disturbed sleep in 87.5% of children (Fig.1) and in 71% of parents. ![Figure][1] The number of children treated with peripheral anti-tussives (leodropropizine n=101) was higher than with central anti-tussives (codeine and cloperastine n=60). Percentage of cough resolution was significantly higher with levodropropizine than with central anti-tussives (47% vs. 28% respectively, p=0.0012) (Fig 2). Percentage of no change or worsenng was lower for levodropropizine vs. central drugs (3% vs. 18%, respectively). ![Figure][1] Conclusions: Cough disturbed children and parents sleep. Both peripheral and central anti-tussives were effective in reducing cough intensity, with an advantage for levodropropizine in terms of higher cough resolution and lower unsuccessful treatment. [1]: pending:yes