Cochrane · systematic review · CD007094

Honey for acute cough in children

Oduwole, O, Udoh, EE, Oyo‐Ita, A, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library

Acute Respiratory Infections3 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
59
current version
GRADE rated
46
No studies
7
Included studies
NR
No studies 7 · 11.9%Ungraded 6 · 10.2%Very low 0 · 0%Low 19 · 32.2%Moderate 27 · 45.8%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

Show all 3 versions

Honey compared to dextromethorphan for acute cough in children

Population: acute cough in children
10 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of cough
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Frequency of cough1
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extracted2 studies · 149 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Severity of cough1
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extracted2 studies · 149 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Bothersome cough1
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extracted1 study · 69 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on children's sleep1
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extracted2 studies · 149 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Cough impact on parents' sleep1
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extracted2 studies · 149 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Adverse events
Honey vs dextromethorphan
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Nervousness, insomnia, hyperactivity
Honey vs dextromethorphan
RR 2.94 [0.74, 11.71]2 studies · 149 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Stomachache, nausea, and vomiting
Honey vs dextromethorphan
RR 4.86 [0.24, 97.69]1 study · 69 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Drowsiness
Honey vs dextromethorphan
RR 2.92 [0.12, 69.2]1 study · 69 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision

Honey compared to diphenhydramine for acute cough in children

Population: acute cough in children
6 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Cough duration
Honey vs diphenhydramine
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Frequency of cough1
Honey vs diphenhydramine
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Severity of cough1
Honey vs diphenhydramine
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Cough impact on children's sleep1
Honey vs diphenhydramine
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep1
Honey vs diphenhydramine
no estimate extracted1 study · 80 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Adverse event: Somnolence
Honey vs diphenhydramine
RR 0.14 [0.01, 2.68]1 study · 80 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision

Honey compared to no treatment for acute cough in children

Population: acute cough in children
10 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Cough duration
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Frequency of cough1
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extracted2 studies · 154 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Severity of cough1
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extracted2 studies · 154 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Bothersome cough1
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extracted1 study · 74 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Cough impact on children's sleep1
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extracted2 studies · 154 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep1
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extracted2 studies · 154 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Adverse events
Honey vs no treatment
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Nervousness, insomnia, hyperactivity
Honey vs no treatment
RR 9.4 [1.16, 76.2]2 studies · 154 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Stomachache, nausea, and vomiting
Honey vs no treatment
RR 5.9 [0.27, 127.14]1 study · 74 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Drowsiness
Honey vs no treatment
RR 3.43 [0.14, 87.09]1 study · 74 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision

Honey compared to placebo for acute cough in children

Population: acute cough in children
16 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Day 1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted1 participantsUngraded
Frequency of cough1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Severity of cough1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Bothersome cough (mean improvement score)
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on children's sleep1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Day 3
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted3 participantsUngraded
Bothersome cough1
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted1 study · 102 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep3
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted1 study · 102 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Day 5
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted5 participantsUngraded
Cough duration
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted1 study · 102 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extracted1 study · 102 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events
Honey vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Stomachache, nausea, and vomiting
Honey vs placebo
RR 1.91 [1.12, 3.24]2 studies · 402 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Diarrhoea
Honey vs placebo
RR 0.92 [0.33, 2.55]1 study · 102 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Tachycardia
Honey vs placebo
RR 1.58 [0.15, 16.86]1 study · 102 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision

Honey compared to salbutamol for acute cough in children

Population: acute cough in children
17 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Day 1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 participantsUngraded
Frequency of cough (mean improvement score)
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Severity of cough (mean improvement score)
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Bothersome cough (mean improvement score)
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on children's sleep1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Cough impact on parents' sleep1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Day 3
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted3 participantsUngraded
Frequency of cough1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Severity of cough1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Bothersome cough1
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Day 5
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted5 participantsUngraded
Cough durationassessed (days)
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extracted1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events
Honey vs salbutamol
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Stomachache, nausea, and vomiting
Honey vs salbutamol
RR 1.74 [1.04, 2.92]1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Rash
Honey vs salbutamol
RR 0.19 [0.02, 1.63]1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Tachycardia
Honey vs salbutamol
RR 1.51 [0.14, 16.1]1 study · 100 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Diarrhoea
Honey vs salbutamol
RR 0.59 [0.24, 1.45]1 study · 100 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision