Homoeopathic versus conventional therapy for atopic eczema in children: medical and economic results.
BACKGROUND
One of five children visiting a homoeopathic physician is suffering from atopic eczema.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness, safety and costs of homoeopathic versus conventional treatment in usual care.


METHODS
In a prospective multicentre comparative observational non-randomised study, 135 children (homoeopathy n = 48 vs. conventional n = 87) with mild to moderate atopic eczema were included. The primary outcome was the SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) at 6 months. Further outcomes at 6 and 12 months also included quality of life of parents and children, use of conventional medicine, treatment safety and disease-related costs.


RESULTS
The adjusted SCORAD showed no significant differences between the groups at both 6 months (homoeopathy 22.49 + or - 3.02 [mean + or - SE] vs. conventional 18.20 + or - 2.31, p = 0.290) and 12 months (17.41 + or - 3.01 vs. 17.29 + or - 2.31, p = 0.974). Adjusted costs were higher in the homoeopathic than in the conventional group: for the first 6 months EUR 935.02 vs. EUR 514.44, p = 0.026, and for 12 months EUR 1,524.23 vs. EUR 721.21, p = 0.001. Quality of life was not significantly different between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Taking patient preferences into account, homoeopathic treatment was not superior to conventional treatment for children with mild to moderate atopic eczema.
Witt
Claudia M
CM
Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Centre, DE-10098 Berlin, Germany. claudia.witt@charite.de
Brinkhaus
Benno
B
Pach
Daniel
D
Reinhold
Thomas
T
Wruck
Katja
K
Roll
Stephanie
S
Jäckel
Tanja
T
Staab
Doris
D
Wegscheider
Karl
K
Willich
Stefan N
SN
D001604:Berlin; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome