Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cough from URTI is common,
leads to discomfort, sleep loss and stress in caregivers, leading to use
of ineffective and potentially harmful over-the-counter medications.
Honey is cost-effective and safe for children above one year of age. It
is readily available and is a potentially valuable demulcent for treatment
of childhood cough. The study aimed to determine the effect of honey
on cough frequency and severity among children with URTI in
outpatient setting.
METHODS: A single-blind randomised control trial involving children
presenting with cough from URTI attending the GOPC of FMC Keffi.
Eighty-four children presenting with cough from URTI were recruited,
randomised into two groups of 42 and administered Honey
(intervention) and Diphenhydramine (control) in three consecutive
bedtime doses. Socio-demographic and clinical data including cough
frequency, severity and impact on children and caregivers was collected
using Paediatric Cough Questionnaire and Kingston Caregiver Stress
Scale tool. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25. A p<0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Majority (56.0%) of the participants were males, with a
mean age +SD of 4±1.47 years. Median cough frequency score for
intervention and control groups pre and post intervention decreased
(5.00 and 0.00 vs 5.00 and 3.00, p<0.001). Median cough severity
score decreased (4.00 and 0.00 vs 4.00 and 3.00, p<0.001), Post
intervention pooled caregivers’ burden significantly reduced, (5.00
and 11.00 for intervention and control respectively) and sleep pattern
improved among children and caregivers (0.00, 2.00 p<0.001; and
0.00, 2.00 p<0.001, for children and caregivers respectively.
CONCLUSION: Night-time honey doses given to children with
cough from URTI significantly reduces symptoms and improves
children and caregivers sleep compared to Diphenhydramine DPH.
