Honey is effective in treating coughs in children above 12 months.
The researchers undertook a systematic review of literature across five databases, using a Medical Subject Heading strategy, keywords, and defined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. This review incorporated a range of study types, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, observational studies and cross-sectional studies. Those articles without a clear methodology section were excluded. The quality of the remaining literature was appraised using a specific checklist.
Following the review, it was found that honey is effective in treating coughs in children older than 12 months. Cold and cough medications were also found to be safe, if given at therapeutic doses. However, a note of caution was highlighted for the use of these medications in children under two years, as fatalities have been recorded in some cases; although further studies are recommended to establish a clear safety profile.
