Honey (for Age >1y)
Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by bees. It acts as a demulcent, coating the mucosal lining of the throat to soothe irritation and suppress coughs. It is widely recommended as a first-line support for acute coughs in children over 1 year. Crucially, honey must never be given to infants under 12 months of age due to the risk of infant botulism, a serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum spores.
Dosage by Body Weight
Give 2.5 ml to 5 ml (half to one teaspoon) as needed, particularly before sleep to help reduce nighttime coughing. Ensure the child is strictly over 1 year of age.
- Body Weight
- Below 5 kg
- Dose
- Contraindicated
- Frequency
- Do not administer
- Tracking Notes
- Strictly contraindicated. Do not give honey to infants under 1 year of age due to the risk of life-threatening infant botulism.
- Body Weight
- 5-7 kg
- Dose
- Contraindicated
- Frequency
- Do not administer
- Tracking Notes
- Typically corresponds to infants under 1 year. Do not give due to botulism risk.
- Body Weight
- 8-10 kg
- Dose
- 2.5 ml (approx. half teaspoon)
- Frequency
- As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily
- Tracking Notes
- Only administer if the child is over 1 year (12 months) of age.
- Body Weight
- 11-15 kg
- Dose
- 2.5 ml to 5 ml (half to one teaspoon)
- Frequency
- As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily
- Tracking Notes
- Can be given warm or mixed with warm water. Ensure child is over 1 year old.
- Body Weight
- 16-20 kg
- Dose
- 5 ml (one teaspoon)
- Frequency
- As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily
- Tracking Notes
- Particularly effective before bedtime to soothe nighttime coughing.
| Body Weight | Dose | Frequency | Tracking Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 5 kg | Contraindicated | Do not administer | Strictly contraindicated. Do not give honey to infants under 1 year of age due to the risk of life-threatening infant botulism. |
| 5-7 kg | Contraindicated | Do not administer | Typically corresponds to infants under 1 year. Do not give due to botulism risk. |
| 8-10 kg | 2.5 ml (approx. half teaspoon) | As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily | Only administer if the child is over 1 year (12 months) of age. |
| 11-15 kg | 2.5 ml to 5 ml (half to one teaspoon) | As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily | Can be given warm or mixed with warm water. Ensure child is over 1 year old. |
| 16-20 kg | 5 ml (one teaspoon) | As needed, up to 3 to 4 times daily | Particularly effective before bedtime to soothe nighttime coughing. |
Formulation
Purpose
Soothes sore throats, coats the pharynx, and acts as a natural demulcent to relieve coughing in children over 1 year of age.
Generic Name
HoneyScheduled Drug
No. This medicine is generally not treated as a scheduled/prescription-only drug in common consumer references, but local rules may vary.