Millions suffering from a chronic cough could have their debilitating symptoms relieved by a new treatment, according to a study.

Up to 10% of adults worldwide experience symptoms with no clear underlying cause.

Some suffer for decades and there is currently no effective treatment.

Researchers at the University of Manchester said a clinical trial resulted in a significant reduction in patients’ symptoms.

Use honey first for a cough, new guidelines say

Stop prescribing ‘precious’ antibiotics for sore throats, GPs told

Promising

Experts said the use of a potential new drug, Gefapixant (MK-7264), appeared to result in a notable decrease in symptoms.

A total of 253 men and women from the US and UK who had suffered from a cough – but were otherwise healthy – that had been unresponsive to treatment for an average of 14.5 years were recruited for the 12-week trial.

They were either given a placebo or Gefapixant twice a day for 84 days but were not told which, and were given doses of either 7.5mg, 20mg or 50mg.

Before the trial, patients reported that they coughed around 24-29 times per hour.

Following 12 weeks of treatment, those being given the drug reported a reduction to, on average, 11 coughs per hour.

However, researchers noted that those taking a placebo also reported a reduction, down to 18 times per hour.

“Many patients with a chronic cough are driven to seek treatment because of the significant negative impact it can have on their quality of life, but at the moment physicians are unable to help,” said Prof Jacky Smith from the University of Manchester, who led the study.

“Ours is the first study to report a treatment that is safe and effective over the longer term.”

She suggested that the placebo effect was due to patients being aware that previous studies with the drug had recorded positive effects.