From the Guidelines
Dextromethorphan is not more effective than honey in relieving cough symptoms in children, according to the most recent guidelines. When considering the management of cough symptoms in children, including those with croup, it's essential to weigh the effectiveness of various treatments. The study published in Chest in 2020 1 suggests that honey may offer more relief for cough symptoms than no treatment, diphenhydramine, or placebo, but it is not better than dextromethorphan. However, this guideline does not specifically address the use of dextromethorphan in croup.
Key Points to Consider
- The relationship between croup and dextromethorphan is not directly addressed in the provided evidence.
- Dextromethorphan is compared to honey in terms of relieving cough symptoms, with honey being potentially more effective or at least as effective as dextromethorphan in some cases 1.
- In clinical practice, the choice of treatment for croup should prioritize reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving quality of life, considering the most recent and highest quality evidence available.
- Given the lack of direct evidence linking dextromethorphan to croup management in the provided study, the use of dextromethorphan for croup should be approached with caution and considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the potential benefits and risks, as well as alternative treatments that may be more effective or have a stronger evidence base, such as honey for cough relief 1.
From the Research
Relationship between Croup and Dextromethorphan
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest a relationship between croup and dextromethorphan.
- The studies focus on the treatment of croup using corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and nebulized epinephrine 3, 4, but do not mention dextromethorphan.
- Dextromethorphan is not discussed as a treatment option for croup in any of the provided studies.
- The provided evidence does not support the use of dextromethorphan in the treatment of croup, as the focus is on corticosteroids and nebulized epinephrine 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.