The Effectiveness and Safety of a Homeopathic Medicinal Product in Pediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infections With Fever

Abstract

We investigated the clinical effectiveness of a homeopathic add-on therapy in a pediatric subpopulation with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in a randomized, controlled, multinational clinical trial. Patients received either on-demand symptomatic standard treatment (ST-group) or the same ST plus a homeopathic medication (Influcid; IFC-group) for 7 days. Outcome assessment was based on symptom and fever resolution and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey–21 (WURSS-21). A total of 261 pediatric (<12 years) patients (130 IFC-group; 131 ST-group) were recruited in Germany and the Ukraine. The IFC-group used less symptomatic medication, symptoms resolved significantly earlier (P = .0001), had higher proportions of fever-free children from day 3 onwards, and the WURSS-assessed global disease severity was significantly less (P < .0001) during the entire URTI episode. One adverse event (vomiting) was possibly related to IFC. IFC as add-on treatment in pediatric URTI reduced global disease severity, shortened symptom resolution, and was safe in use.

Homeopathy in the Age of Antimicrobial Resistance: Is It a Viable Treatment for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

“…The first article 74 reports the effects and safety of standard treatment (ST) plus a homeopathic compound (Influcid [IFC]), or ST only, on a mixed age cohort with a URTI. The later article 28 reports the effects of ST plus IFC or ST only, on a paediatric cohort. Both articles have been included in the analysis.…”

“…Many participants in homeopathic studies are children 9,14,79,[81][82][83][84] so it is significant that the safety and tolerability of homeopathic treatment in the trials reviewed was very good. 28,74,79,85 A good rate of improvement in the acute symptoms of URTIs in those receiving homeopathic treatment was reported in all the RCTs and observational trials in which this was measured; however, the timescale for symptom improvement varied, for example fever 28 improved/resolved faster than cough. 13 In Rabe et al's study, treatment with the homeopathic remedy complex Gripp-Heel was perceived by patients with mild viral infections to be more successful, with greater tolerability and compliance than conventional treatment.…”

“…Other pharmacological treatments include antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, expectorants, decongestants, and cough suppressants, either alone or in combination. 28 Respiratory complaints are also the most frequent reason for over-the-counter (OTC) purchases of homeopathic medicines, 29 suggesting a demand for alternatives to pharmaceutical OTC products.…”

“…Both small-and large-scale studies suggest that homeopathy may reduce the prescribing of antibiotics for acute URTIs and their sequelae. 28,83,98,99 As part of an EPI3 nationwide survey of primary care practice in France, the progress of 518 adults and children with URTIs (79.3% with rhinopharyngitis) treated by either general practitioners (GPs) certified to use homeopathy (GP-Hom) or GPs who used conventional medicine only (GP-CM) was compared. Patients in the GP-Hom group showed significantly lower consumption of antibiotics (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-0.68) and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs (OR ¼ 0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.76), with similar outcomes.…”

Homoeopathy for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Children: A Narrative Review of Research Evidence

“…37 Complex homoeopathic medicine was used in another RCT as add-on therapy to conventional treatment in 261 children and again showed earlier symptom resolution from third day of treatment, and a significant improvement in Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS) assessed global disease severity during the entire treatment period of URTI episode. 34 A double-blind RCT says that homoeopathy is not effective when used with adjuvant therapy in cases of otitis media with effusion. After randomisation, both groups received aerosol therapy (mucolytics and corticosteroids).…”