Honey as a Treatment for Cough in Children

摘要

Based on a Cochrane review, we know that there are no over-the-counter (OTC) preparations that are effective for decreasing cough in children with acute cough.1 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of codeine- or dextromethorphan-containing cough and cold medication in children,2 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently opened an investigation regarding the effectiveness of children's OTC cough and cold medication because of lack of evidence of effectiveness, as well as an increased risk of adverse outcomes.3 The World Health Organization recommends the use of honey to soothe cough in kids older than one year.4 So, what do we do to help children and their parents when no one can sleep because of cough from an upper respiratory infection (URI)? The authors of this study had previously demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the effectiveness of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and placebo on nocturnal cough and sleep quality in children with cough.5 Here, they attempted to evaluate, using the same seven-point Likert scale, the effect of a single dose of buckwheat honey (volume equal to age-adjusted volume of dextromethorphan), honey-flavored dextromethorphan (dose adjusted for age), or no treatment (empty syringe) on the frequency, severity, and bothersomeness of nocturnal cough, as well as the quality of sleep for parent and child.