title: Prospective self-controlled trial of the efficacy and tolerability of a herbal syrup for young children with eczema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is popular as an alternative medicine in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). A concoction of five herbs in a capsular preparation has been confirmed to be efficacious in improving the quality of life and sparing topical corticosteroid usage. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the same concoction in syrup form.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective self-controlled trial set in the pediatric dermatology clinic of a teaching hospital. Children aged 4-7 years with moderate-to-severe AD received 20 ml of TCM syrup daily. Clinical parameters and laboratory markers were measured before and at 2 weeks, 7 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment, and at 4 weeks after completion. Disease severity was evaluated by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index and quality of life by the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). Blood was obtained for a complete blood count, total IgE, eosinophil count, and biochemical studies prior to and after 3 months of TCM usage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients participated in the study. There were significant improvements in the objective SCORAD, pruritus and CDLQI scores 4 weeks after study completion. There was no change in sleep score or amount of topical steroid consumption. No biochemical evidence of any adverse drug reaction was observed during the study period. The TCM syrup was generally palatable and well tolerated by the children. Adverse effects were generally mild but two patients with rash withdrew during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The palatability means that further evaluations and dosage studies of the concoction will be possible in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. ehon@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kam Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: William K F
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ting-Fan
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Chung-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Clara B S
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Tai Fai
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.forename: Pak-Cheung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Ping-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal