The Power of Placebo in the Treatment of Nighttime Cough

Young children with cough have trouble sleeping and so do their parents. Honey has been shown to decrease cough symptoms but cannot be given to infants because of the risk for botulism (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Aug 15 2012). In a partially double-blind, randomized study, researchers compared the effect of a single bedtime dose of pasteurized agave nectar (not associated with botulism), like-flavored placebo, or no treatment in 120 children (age range, 2–47 months) presenting with <7 days of cough in general pediatrics practices.

Comparison of parent symptom assessments using a validated nocturnal pediatric scale on the night before and the night of treatment showed improvements in all three groups in cough characteristics, rhinorrhea seve…