A ‘chocolate cure’ for persistent cough?

At present,most medications to control the symptoms are opiate-based ones like cough syrups containing codeine,a narcotic.

Now,the scientists are helping develop a medication based on a drug called theobromine,which they say “has been shown to inhibit the inappropriate firing of the vagus nerve,which is a key feature of persistent cough”.

The substance is found in “significant quantities in cocoa-based products”,say the scientists.

Prof Alyn Morice from the Hull Cough Clinic,said: “Due to the drawbacks of current opioid drugs such as codeine,we are in desperate need of a non-opioid treatment with a drastically improved side effect profile for patients.”

He said that while it was “theoretically possible” to get enough theobromine in a bar of dark chocolate to alleviate a cough,studies had yet to be done to reveal the exact dose required.