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Efficacy of honey in reduction of post tonsillectomy pain, randomized clinical trial
Saleh Mohebbi1, Fatemeh Hasan Nia2, Farbood Kelantari2
1Brain and Spine Injury Research Center (BASIR), Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Department of Otolaryngology, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Insights
Honey supplementation after pediatric tonsillectomy significantly reduced post-operative pain and improved recovery. Patients receiving honey experienced faster pain relief and resumed normal diets sooner, indicating its value as an adjunctive therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pain Management
- Natural Therapeutics
Background:
- Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric procedure.
- Post-operative pain and hemorrhage are significant complications.
- Honey has historical uses in wound healing and inflammation reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of honey in alleviating post-tonsillectomy pain in children aged 5-15.
- To assess honey's impact on pain intensity, duration, and recovery metrics.
Main Methods:
- 80 pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy were randomized into two groups.
- One group received standard care (antibiotics, acetaminophen); the other received standard care plus honey.
- Pain, diet resumption, and sleep disturbances were assessed via questionnaires and observation.
Main Results:
- Honey group showed significantly shorter pain relief duration and lower pain intensity in the first 9 days.
- Acetaminophen consumption was reduced in the honey group.
- The honey group demonstrated faster resumption of regular diet and fewer nighttime awakenings.
Conclusions:
- Honey administration post-tonsillectomy is effective for pain management.
- Honey can serve as a valuable adjunctive treatment for improving post-operative recovery.
- This natural remedy offers a beneficial approach to pediatric tonsillectomy pain control.
Objectives:
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed in pediatric population. One of the most prevalent tonsillectomy complications is early or delayed post-operative hemorrhage. Other important morbidity is post-operative pain. Historically, honey has been used for wound control, reducing the inflammation, and healing acceleration. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of honey on reducing pain after tonsillectomy in children 5-15 years old.
Methods:
After tonsillectomy, 80 patients were randomly divided in two equal groups. Patients in the first group were treated with antibiotic and acetaminophen, while those in the second group were treated with antibiotic, acetaminophen and honey. Data was gathered via a questionnaire and observation of tonsillar bed healing. Data was analyzed by SPSS17 software and related tests.
Results:
Pain comparison between two groups showed that the average time required for pain relief in patients who received honey was less than the control. The pain intensity was higher during the first 9 days post-operatively in control group. Results also showed that acetaminophen consumption in patients who received honey is lower. In the case group, the average time to resume regular diet and the frequency of awakening at night is significantly less than the control group.
Conclusion:
Honey administration after tonsillectomy has valuable effect in pain relief and it can be used as an adjunctive regimen after surgery for better pain control.
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