title: Complementary and alternative medicines and childhood eczema: a US population-based study.
abstract: The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in US children with eczema is unknown. Furthermore, it is unknown whether CAM use in the United States is associated with higher eczema prevalence. We sought to determine the eczema prevalence in association with CAM usage. We analyzed data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey that included a nationally representative sample of 9417 children ages 0 to 17 years. Overall, 46.9% (95% confidence interval, 45.6%-48.2%) of children in the United States used 1 or more CAM, of which 0.99% (0.28%-1.71%) used CAM specifically to treat their eczema, including herbal therapy (0.46%), vitamins (0.33%), Ayurveda (0.28%), naturopathy (0.24%), homeopathy (0.20%), and traditional healing (0.12%). Several CAMs used for other purposes were associated with increased eczema prevalence, including herbal therapy (survey logistic regression; adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.07 [1.40-3.06]), vitamins (1.45 [1.21-1.74]), homeopathic therapy (2.94 [1.43-6.00]), movement techniques (3.66 [1.62-8.30]), and diet (2.24 [1.10-4.58]), particularly vegan diet (2.53 [1.17-5.51]). In conclusion, multiple CAMs are commonly used for the treatment of eczema in US children. However, some CAMs may actually be harmful to the skin and be associated with higher eczema prevalence in the United States.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Dermatology, †Preventive Medicine, and ‡Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; §Department of Allergy & Immunology, Beth Israel Medical Center; and ∥Department of Dermatology, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Centers, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Jonathan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee-Wong
authors.forename: Nanette B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Silverberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008419:Materia Medica; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins