Comparing the Effectiveness of Honey Consumption With Anti-Cough Medication in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Coughing is one of the most prevalent symptoms in children presenting at outpatient departments. This systematic review aimed to review previous literature in order to compare the use of honey and antitussive medications for treating coughs in children. Literature was screened across five databases using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) strategy, keywords, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The remaining literature was evaluated using a quality appraisal tool checklist. This review includes systematic reviews, metaanalyses, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, cross-sectional studies, and articles without a defined methodology section. This review suggests that honey is effective in treating children above 12 months of age, while cold and cough medications (CCMs) are safe if administered at therapeutic doses. Since fatalities can occur in children under two years of age, further RCT studies on CCMs are required to establish safety across all age groups.

Managing of Acute Pediatric Cough in Africa: prescription of Cough Suppressants and Associated Complications

“…These results confirm what is reported in the literature. Several studies have already shown the harms of cough suppressants in pediatrics [2,[6][7][8]10,13,[19][20][21][22]. As noted above, the use of cough suppressants is already prohibited in pediatrics.…”

Identification of a New Pyrrolyl Pyridoindole Alkaloid, Melpyrrole, and Flazin from Honey and Their Cough-Suppressing Effect in Guinea Pigs

“…A large number of studies have shown that honey possesses pharmacological activities in humans including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, wound healing, and oral health effects. , Honey has also been used as a folk remedy for cough. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis has concluded that honey was superior to usual care for the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, including cough frequency and cough severity. − …”

“…The combined organic layers were washed successively with saturated aqueous NaHCO 3 , water, and brine, dried, and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (n-hexane−ethyl acetate = 10:1 → 4:1 → 2:1) to give 6 (1.23 g, 82%) as a syrup; 1 (7). A solution of 6 (1.51 g, 5.91 mmol) in acetic acid−tetrahydrofuran−water (4:4:1, 18 mL) was stirred at rt for 2 h. After addition of powdered NaHCO 3 , the resulting mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate.…”

Cough up, time’s up: pholcodine and risk of anaphylaxis to general anaesthetics

“…On day 3 of treatment, there was a small reduction in cough intensity and day-time cough frequency, but in the absence of a placebo comparison these benefits are unconvincing 8. Arguably, honey may be both safer and more effective: a systematic review reported efficacy in children over 1 year of age (honey should be avoided in infants due to risk of botulism), particularly during the first 3 days of symptom onset, compared with no benefit from OTC cough remedies 9…”