Effect of homoeopathic medicines on daily burden of symptoms in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the intrinsic effects of individually prescribed homoeopathic medicines.


METHODS
Randomised double blind placebo controlled study.


METHODS
Paediatric outpatient department of university hospital.


METHODS
175 children with frequently recurring upper respiratory tract infections. Of the 170 children evaluable, 86 were randomised to homoeopathic medicines (47 boys, 39 girls; median age at start 4.2 years; median number of episodes in past year 4) and 84 to placebo (43 boys, 41 girls; median age at start 3.6 years; median number of episodes in past year 4).


METHODS
Mean score for daily symptoms, number of antibiotic courses, and number of adenoidectomies and tonsillectomies over one year of follow up.


RESULTS
The mean daily symptom score was 2.61 in the placebo group and 2.21 in the treatment group (difference 0.41; 95% confidence interval -0.02 to 0.83). In both groups the use of antibiotics was greatly reduced compared with that in the year before entering the trial (from 73 to 33 in the treatment group and from 69 to 43 in the placebo group). The proportion of children in the treatment group having adenoidectomies was lower in the treatment group (16%, 8/50) than in the placebo group (21%, 9/42). The proportion having tonsillectomies was the same in both groups (5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Individually prescribed homoeopathic medicines seem to add little to careful counselling of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infection in reducing the daily burden of symptoms, use of antibiotics, and need for adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy.
de Lange de Klerk
E S
ES
Vakgroep Epidemiologie en Biostatistiek, Faculteit der Geneeskunde, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Blommers
J
J
Kuik
D J
DJ
Bezemer
P D
PD
Feenstra
L
L
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents