title: Efficacy and tolerability of a polysaccharide-resin-honey based cough syrup as compared to carbocysteine syrup for children with colds: a randomized, single-blinded, multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Available pediatric treatments for acute cough are limited by lack of demonstrated efficacy. The objective of this trial is to compare the effects of a polysaccharide-resin-honey based cough syrup, and carbocysteine syrups on nocturnal and daytime cough associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a single-blind randomization design, the study recruited children from 4 general pediatric community clinics. Participants included 150 children aged 2 to 5 years with an URI, nocturnal and daytime cough and illness duration of ≤7 days. To be eligible, children had to be free of medication on the day before presentation. A survey was administered to parents on 4 consecutive days beginning from the day of presentation in clinic. Children received the study preparation on the first evening and then 3 times per day for 3 further days. Main outcome measures were cough frequency, cough severity, bothersome nature of cough, and quality of sleep for both child and parent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both preparations were well tolerated and cough improved over the study period. After one night and on all survey days, there was a significantly better result for polysaccharide-resin-honey (P<0.05) for all the main outcome measures. The trend of improvement over the 4 days was steeper for polysaccharide-resin-honey (P<0.05) with regards to all cough parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both polysaccharide-resin-honey and carbocysteine cough syrups were well tolerated in children over 2 years of age. The polysaccharide-resin-honey syrup was associated with a more rapid and greater improvement in all clinical cough symptoms measured, beginning from the first night of therapy. Both nocturnal and daytime cough improved, as did sleep quality for both children and parents.
authors.affiliation: , P.O.Box 187, 56000, Yehud, Israel. hermanc@post.tau.ac.il.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. hermanc@post.tau.ac.il.|Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petah-Tikva, Israel. hermanc@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Herman Avner
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Clalit Research Institute, Chief Physician's Office, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshen
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Kefar Saba, Israel.
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Bat Yam, Israel.
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahir
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoseph
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Laks
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.|Pulmonary Institute, Schneider Children Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blau
mesh_terms: D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002233:Carbocysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005100:Expectorants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D005100:Expectorants; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D002233:Carbocysteine
keywords: children; cough; upper respiratory tract infection