Honey And Lozenges For Children With Non-specific Cough

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 16 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Chronic non-specific cough is a chronic, dry cough of in the absence of identifiable respiratory disease or known aetiology; although it is usually not reflective of an underlying severe illness, it does cause significant morbidity, and as such relief from it is often sought. The use of honey and lozenges to soothe upper respiratory tract irritation is common, inexpensive, and potentially more effective in treating the symptoms than pharmacological interventions.

Extract from Implications for Practice

Clinically, this review was unable to provide any justifiable recommendation for or against honey and/or lozenges due to the lack of evidence. These treatments are not recommended when managing very young children (as lozenges are a potential choking hazard, and honey can cause infant botulism in children under 1 year of age).

(CD007523) by Mulholland and Chang

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Source
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