A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Kantkari and Vasa Lozenges in Children with Kasa (Cough)-Study Protocol

Background: Kasa is the outcome due to release of obstructed Vayu resulting in the production of abnormal sound, which may be productive or dry. Kasa is one of the primary diseases of Pranavaha srotas, and can cause disturbances in other body functions. Prevalence of cough in India is 5% to 10% while acute cases of cough is 39% and chronic cases of cough is 29% reported in Maharashtra. This research drug is taken to check its efficacy on both the types of cough, dry as well as productive with acute or chronic origin. It has a good palatability and liked by children as it appears as candy. Many studies have been carried out on Kasa with different formulations so far like vati, churna, ghrita but they have no fast and long lasting action with different level of efficacy. Many lozenges are also available in the market but no studies have been done.

Objective: Comparative Study on the efficacy of Kantakari lozenges with Vasa lozenges in the clinical features of Kasa by subjective criteria such as Peenasa-(running nose), Kasa, Aruchi-(taste impliedness), kanthkandu(throat itching), kaphnishthivan (Sputum) and objective criteria as adventitious sound and AEC-absolute eosinophil count, TLC-total leucocytes count, and DLC-differential leucocyte count.

Materials and Methods: The present study is designed as a Double Blind, Randomized Controlled Study in which total 60 patients will be enrolled. Patients will be randomly divided (by computer generated sequence method) in two with 30 patients in each group. In group A, Vasa lozenges and in group B Kantkari lozenges will be given for 7 days. Assessment of the patients will be done on 3rd and 7th day during study after intervention and post treatment follow up will be taken on 14th& 21st day from the enrolled date.

Results: Efficacy of both the lozenges will be observed in subjective and objective outcomes. Conclusion: Kantkari lozenges (trial group) is expected to be more effective than Vasa lozenges (control group) in the management of Kasa as Vata, Kapha are more dominant in the pathology of Kasa in children and Kantakari is a good Vatakaphahar drug added with Pippali to act synergistically.