Problem

Cough is a complex physiological event consisting of a violent expiration in order to release secretions, foreign material or bronchospasm airway driving and protect the respiratory system from chemical, infectious, mechanical and thermal agents. Acute cough lasts less than four to eight weeks (depending on the definition used). It is not a disease in itself but a symptom related to many respiratory diseases. Depending on the intensity and frequency of the cough, it often leads to a negative impact on the quality of life for both the child and his family, generating a high number of medical consultations.

It has been suggested that honey, due to its antioxidant properties and the release of cytokines, could be used as treatment.

Despite of being a widely available treatment, there is little information about its effects.  

Methods

We used Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening more than 30 databases, to identify systematic reviews and their included primary studies. With this information we generated a structured summary using a pre-established format, which includes key messages, a summary of the body of evidence (presented as an evidence matrix in Epistemonikos), meta-analysis of the total of studies, a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach and a table of other considerations for decision-making.

About the body of evidence for this question

Summary of findings

The information about the effects of honey for the treatment of acute cough is based on three randomized trials [4], [5], [6] including 568 patients. All of the studies reported frequency and severity of cough, and parent’s and children’s quality of sleep. Only one study reported the side effects of honey versus placebo [4]. 

• Honey probably decreases the severity of cough. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.
• Honey probably decreases the frequency of cough. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.
• Honey probably allows patients to sleep better at night. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.
• Honey probably allows parents to sleep better at night. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.
• The use of honey probably leads to little or no difference in adverse effects, in comparison with placebo. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.

Other considerations for decision-making

How we conducted this summary

Using automated and collaborative means, we compiled all the relevant evidence for the question of interest and we present it as a matrix of evidence.

Follow the link to access the interactive version: Honey versus no treatment or placebo for acute cough in children

Notes

The upper portion of the matrix of evidence will display a warning of “new evidence” if new systematic reviews are published after the publication of this summary. Even though the project considers the periodical update of these summaries, users are invited to comment in Medwave or to contact the authors through email if they find new evidence and the summary should be updated earlier. After creating an account in Epistemonikos, users will be able to save the matrixes and to receive automated notifications any time new evidence potentially relevant for the question appears.

The details about the methods used to produce these summaries are described here http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2014.06.5997.

Epistemonikos foundation is a non-for-profit organization aiming to bring information closer to health decision-makers with technology. Its main development is Epistemonikos database (www.epistemonikos.org).

These summaries follow a rigorous process of internal peer review.

Conflicts of interest
The authors do not have relevant interests to declare.

Esta obra de Medwave está bajo una licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 3.0 Unported. Esta licencia permite el uso, distribución y reproducción del artículo en cualquier medio, siempre y cuando se otorgue el crédito correspondiente al autor del artículo y al medio en que se publica, en este caso, Medwave.