Pharmacoeconomic comparison between homeopathic and antibiotic treatment strategies in recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis in children

Abstract

Homeopathy may be a cost-effective alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of recurrent infantile rhinopharyngitis.

The Use of Homeopathic Products in Childhood: Data Generated over 8.5 Years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

“…24 Another comparative study investigated homeopathic and antibiotic treatment strategies in recurrent rhinopharyngitis in children aged 18 months to 4 years. 25 Episodes of rhinopharyngitis were reduced as were costs, and quality of life was better in the homeopathic care group. A sister study within the ALSPAC CAM study group showed no reduction in antibiotic use in homeopathic users.…”

A Randomized Open Comparative Clinical Trial on the Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerability of a Homeopathic Medicinal Product for the Treatment of Painful Teething in Children

“…Studies by Kooreman and Baars [31,32] reported that patients whose general practitioner has additional CAM training (including homeopathy) had lower health costs. Furthermore, homeopathic treatment of children with rhinopharyngitis was associated with lower direct medical costs and less sick leave time for their parents compared to standard antibiotic treatment [33]. Because of the rapidly growing health care cost in Western societies, cost-effective treatment options such as homeopathy may gain new (politic) interest.…”

Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Associated with Allopathic Medicine in the Outpatient Management of Influenza-like Illnesses or Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders by Pharmacists

“…1,2 Antibiotics are widely misused in patients with colds and URTI, with more than one third (35.7%) of all patients with this diagnosis receiving an antibiotic prescription. 3 This high level of use of prescription drugs such as antibiotics leads to suboptimal care, unnecessarily high health care costs, 4,5 and increasing levels of antibiotic resistance. 3,6 As part of their training, pharmacists are taught how to identify illnesses for which they can advise patients and deliver medication directly, over-the-counter (OTC), without the need for a medical prescription.…”