Honey Eases Cough In Young Children

In young children with noctural cough associated with upper respiratory tract infection (URI), a single dose of honey before bed was significantly more effective than placebo in lessening cough frequency and may offer an alternative to over-the-counter suppressants that cannot be used in children younger than 4 years.

Although honey is listed by the WHO as a possible treatment for a nagging cough, little evidence exists to support its use. To test its effectiveness, Herman Avner Cohen, MD, of Tel Aviv University in Israel, and colleagues analyzed data from a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 300 children aged 1 to 5 years with URIs, nocturnal cough, and illness duration of less than or equal to 1 week. 

The study tested 3 types of honey (eucalyptus, citrus, and labiatae) and silan date extract, which was used for placeo. Children were given 10 g of honey or placebo 30 minutes before bedtime. Parents completed a 5-question survey before and after treatment on which they rated frequency and severity of cough, interruption of sleep, and levels of discomfort in the children on a 7-point Likert scale. 

Significant improvement in symptoms and sleep difficulty was reported with all 3 honey treatments as well as placebo, although the improvement was greater in the honey-treated groups.

Overall, improvements were 9.88 points with eucalyptis, 10.10 with citrus, and 9.51 with labiatae, all considerably larger than 5.82 with date extract.   

"Honey may be a preferable treatment of cough and sleep difficulties associated with childhood URIs," researchers concluded.

-Michael Potts

For more on chronic cough in children, see Chronic Cough in CHildren and Teens:A Simplified Approach to the Evaluation