Efficacy and Safety of Echinacea in Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Abstract

PPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INfections (URIs) are a significant health burden in childhood. The average child has 6 to 8 colds each year, each lasting 7 to 9 days. [1][2][3] Symptoms frequently require medical attention; during the winter months almost 40% of visits to pediatricians by patients 1 to 5 years old are because of cold and cough symptoms. 4 Up to one third of young children with URIs are diagnosed with secondary bacterial infections such as otitis media or sinusitis, frequently resulting in antibiotic therapy. 2,4 To alleviate the symptoms of URIs, children are frequently given drugs such as decongestants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants. 5 Unfortunately, there is little evidence that these medications are efficacious in children younger than 12 years. [6][7][8] Perhaps because of the lack of efficacy of conventional medications for URIs, a substantial proportion of children receive alternative forms of treatment such as homeopathy and naturopathy. It has been estimated that 11% to 21% of children in the United States and Canada who are receiving care from

Echinaceaspecies (Echinacea angustifolia(DC.) Hell.,Echinacea pallida(Nutt.) Nutt.,Echinacea purpurea(L.) Moench): a review of their chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties

“…Where adverse events were reported, most commonly these were mild gastrointestinal symptoms (Brinkeborn et al 1999;Grimm & Mu¨ller 1999;Barrett et al 2002;Taylor et al 2003;Cohen et al 2004;Goel et al 2004). Another review of clinical data, mostly from clinical trials, concluded that oral administration of the expressed juice of E. purpurea herb is well tolerated (Parnham 1996).…”

A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold

“…However, the literature supporting its clinical efficacy is inconclusive (Hoheisel et al, 1997;Brinkeborn et al, 1999;Grimm and Muller, 1999;Giles et al, 2000;Lindenmuth and Lindenmuth, 2000;Turner et al, 2000;Barrett et al, 2002;Taylor et al, 2003;Yale and Liu, 2004;Sperber et al, 2004). This incongruity could be due partly to the fact that the products utilized in many studies were not standardized on active components (Turner et al, 2000).…”

Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Children – Definition, Diagnostic Approach, Treatment and Prevention

“…In children's study was found no effect on duration of illness or severity of symptoms. Treatment with Echinacea was associated with increased risk of rash compared with placebo group (Taylor et al, 2003). In other study treatment with extract of Echinacea, vitamin C and propolis reduced significantly number and duration of illness episodes in children when compared with placebo treated group (Cohen et al, 2004).…”