Research in Homeopathy, Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy

Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy

Upper respiratory tract infection
Treatment of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections ²⁸

This study investigated the intrinsic effects of individually prescribed homeopathic medicines in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled protocol. 170 children with frequently recurring upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were randomized to homoeopathic medicines (47 boys, 39 girls; median age at start 4.2 years; median number of episodes in past year 4) and to placebo (43 boys, 41 girls; median age at start 3.6 years; median number of episodes in past year 4). Measurements included: mean score for daily symptoms; number of antibiotic courses; number of adenoidectomies and tonsillectomies over one year of follow up.

The mean daily symptom score was 2.21 in the treatment group compared with 2.61 in the placebo group (difference 0.41; 95% confidence interval -0.02 to 0.83). This represents evidence of a difference between the groups (P~0.05). In both groups, the use of antibiotics was greatly reduced compared with that in the year before entering the trial. The proportion of children in the treatment group having adenoidectomies was somewhat 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%).

The authors concluded that individually prescribed homeopathic medicines may add little to careful counselling of children with recurrent URTI in reducing the daily burden of symptoms, use of antibiotics, and need for adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Given the trial's positive results for daily symptom score, however, there is reason to conclude that homeopathy helped these children's recovery from illness.

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		Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy
		Asthma Influenza Glue ear Pain Upper respiratory tract infection Upper respiratory tract infection Treatment of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections ²⁸ This study investigated the intrinsic effects of individually prescribed homeopathic medicines in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled protocol. 170 children with frequently recurring upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were randomized to homoeopathic medicines (47 boys, 39 girls; median age at start 4.2 years; median number of episodes in past year 4) and to placebo (43 boys, 41 girls; median age at start 3.6 years; median number of episodes in past year 4). Measurements included: mean score for daily symptoms; number of antibiotic courses; number of adenoidectomies and tonsillectomies over one year of follow up. The mean daily symptom score was 2.21 in the treatment group compared with 2.61 in the placebo group (difference 0.41; 95% confidence interval -0.02 to 0.83). This represents evidence of a difference between the groups (P~0.05). In both groups, the use of antibiotics was greatly reduced compared with that in the year before entering the trial. The proportion of children in the treatment group having adenoidectomies was somewhat 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%). The authors concluded that individually prescribed homeopathic medicines may add little to careful counselling of children with recurrent URTI in reducing the daily burden of symptoms, use of antibiotics, and need for adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Given the trial's positive results for daily symptom score, however, there is reason to conclude that homeopathy helped these children's recovery from illness. Back to text		Table of contents Homeopathy: the great debate Clinical research in homeopathy Veterinary homeopathy Issues and controversies Mechanism of action Is homeopathy safe? Is homeopathy cost effective? BHA/Faculty’s research strategy References Research discussion forum C O N T A C T U S S I T E M A P H O M E
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