Treatment of cough associated with upper respiratory tract infections in children: What is the best evidence?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v26i2.10729Keywords:
Cough, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Children and TherapeuticsAbstract
Objectives: Review the evidence about the therapeutics of cough associated with URTIs in children from six to twelve years of age. Data Sources: The author s200earched the databases National Guideline Clearinghouse, Canadian Medical Association Infobase, Publeg, Cochrane Library, Dare, Trip Database, National Library of Guidelines Specialist Library, Pubmed and Índex das Revistas Médicas Portuguesas and the reference lists of relevant articles. Review Methods: The author searched the databases listed using MeSH terms child, cough, upper respiratory infection, therapeutic, for all articles written in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, published until July 2008.The studies were classified using Strenght of Recomendation Taxonomy (SORT). Studies excluded were those disagreeing with the objective of the study, those not referring to children and those including other diseases and conditions besides URTIs. Results: Eighty two articles were collected and twelve were selected. From the studies analyzed, nine showed that antitussives, antihistamines and antihistamine/decongestant combinations arent more effective than placebo for the treatment of cough. Another two, analyzed a combination of antitussive and a ß-2 agonist and an isolated ß-2 agonist, and found no improvement in the symptom, and another one didnt found benefit in increased fluid intake. Two studies showed a non-significant improvement of cough with the use of cough syrups. For expectorants and metilxanthines no studies were found. Conclusion: There is no evidence for the use of antitussives, expectorants, antihistamines and increased oral fluid intake for the treatment of cough (SOR A). There is no evidence for the use of ß-2 agonist in the treatment of this symptom (SOR B). Pediatric cough syrups have a non-significant effect in the treatment of cough. There is a need for high quality randomized controlled trials about the effectiveness of the drugs used in the treatment of cough associated with URTIs in children.Downloads
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