title: The use of complementary and alternative medicine by pediatric food-allergic patients in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In developed countries, increasing food allergy prevalence and concern regarding food allergies have been reported. Although the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of allergic diseases has increased in some Western countries, the actual proportion and patterns of CAM use for pediatric food allergies in Japan are still unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen allergy centers in Japan participated in the study using a questionnaire survey regarding the use of CAM by pediatric patients. A diagnosis of food allergy was made at each hospital by pediatric allergists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were completed by parents/guardians, and data were collected for a total of 962 pediatric food-allergic patients. Overall, 8.4% of the participants used CAM to treat a food allergy. The major CAM therapies used were herbal teas (22.2%), including several Japanese herbal teas, Chinese herbal medicine (18.5%) and lactic acid bacteria (16%). Among the participants using CAM to treat food allergy, 13.6% thought that the CAM being used was very effective, while 11.1% of participants thought that CAM caused some type of side effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is the first large-scale national survey regarding the use of CAM in pediatric patients with food allergies in Japan. Unlike in the USA, which has a higher rate of CAM use (17%), approximately 8.4% of food-allergic patients used CAM in Japan. Interestingly, the major types of CAM used in Japan differed from those used in the USA. Cultural differences and food customs may affect the use of CAM.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba City, Japan. taiji1977@graduate.chiba-u.jp
authors: Taiji
authors: T
authors: Nakano
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Shimojo
authors: Yoshitaka
authors: Y
authors: Okamoto
authors: Motohiro
authors: M
authors: Ebisawa
authors: Kazuyuki
authors: K
authors: Kurihara
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Hoshioka
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Komei
authors: K
authors: Ito
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Fujisawa
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Kameda
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Suehiro
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Ogura
authors: Rumiko
authors: R
authors: Shibata
authors: Shuichi
authors: S
authors: Suzuki
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Takahashi
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Ikeda
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Kohno
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal