Does Your Child Have Upper Respiratory Symptoms? Perhaps Honey Will Help: New Study
Buckwheat honey appears to give children more relief from the symptoms of upper respiratory infection than does the once-popular over-the-counter medication dextromethorphan (DM), or no treatment at all, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.
Researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 in this latest study, which spanned two nights. On the first night of the experiment, children received no treatment for the symptoms of their upper respiratory infection, and the following morning, parents answered 5 questions regarding their children's cough and sleep quality. On the second night of the study, children were arbitrarily divided into treatment groups, with one group of children receiving a small oral dose of buckwheat honey, another receiving a dose of honey-flavored dexomethorphan (DM), and another receiving no treatment. Parents responded to the same 5 questions the following morning, and survey data indicated that across the board, parents rated honey as a significantly better treatment than DM or no treatment for the symptoms of upper respiratory infection and sleep difficulty.
The findings are helpful since a recent FDA advisory regarding dexomethorphan (DM) indicated that it was an inappropriate treatment of cough in children under 6 years of age, because of its dangerous side effects. According to researchers, cough is the primary reason for nearly 3% of all outpatient medical visits in the U.S. annually -- more than any other single symptom.
As with any medical advice regarding your child, please consult with a pediatrician prior to administration of any new medication or treatment.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we posted an article related to the recent removal of pediatric cold medicines from the market over health concerns.
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