The British maker of Mucinex cold medicine, Dettol soaps and Durex condoms said that like-for-like sales rose 5 percent in the first quarter. Analysts on average were expecting an increase of 4.9 percent.

Reckitt's health business saw sales jump 10 percent, ahead of expectations for growth of 7.4 percent, according to Canaccord Genuity analysts. This was despite pockets of weakness, such as retailers destocking in Russia and the United States after a late start to the flu season.

It is the unit's fifth straight quarter of double-digit growth. The unit is benefiting from ageing populations and urbanization and increasing interest in health and wellness.

Reckitt said it is still on track for full-year group sales growth of 4 percent to 5 percent and for its operating margin to expand at a "moderate" rate in the medium term.

The company said foreign currency exchange rates would be a 5 percent tailwind this year, if rates stay as they were at the end of March.

Reckitt shares, which trade at nearly 25 times its estimated 2016 earnings, were up less than 1 percent at 0910 GMT.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller in London; Editing by Mark Heinrich)