Feasibility study: honey for treatment of cough in children

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections are an important health problem because of high incidence and economic costs. The World Health Organization identifies honey as a potential demulcent treatment for cough. The aim of this study is to determine: i) patient public perceptions towards a proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effects of honey to placebo for treatment of cough in children; ii) potential participation rates for proposed trial; iii) whether age and gender of parent or child impacts on proposed cough assessment tools. Forty adult participants with children age 1-6 years presenting with an upper respiratory tract infection were enrolled. They underwent a structured interview regarding the proposed trial and assessed their child's cough using two validated questionnaires. Eighty-eight percent of those recruited were willing to participate in the proposed trial. The two independently validated cough scores correlated well. A relationship between age and gender of child or parent with cough assessment score was not found. We conclude that a RCT to determine the effects of honey versus placebo is feasible. The public find the outcome measures and trial design acceptable.

Keywords: common cold; common illnesses; community medicine; pediatrics; primary care; upper respiratory infections.

Figure 1.

Participation rates for the proposed Randomized Controlled Trial.

Figure 2.

A comparison between the scores obtained on the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale and Paul et al. questionnaire. The data has been normalized.

Figure 3.

Scatter graph comparison of the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale with Paul et al.

Figure 4.

Bland Altman plot for Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale and Paul et al. questionnaire.