Use of Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies Among Children With Special Health Care Needs in Southern Arizona

Abstract

Use of CAM for children with special health care needs is common. Its frequency and type are significantly associated with the child's condition and prognosis.

Complementary and alternative medicine: a survey of its use in pediatric cardiology

“…2 However, it is difficult to compare these rates directly, as the definition of such medicine varies, especially with respect to vitamins, which are considered to be complementary and alternative medicines in some studies but not in others. 2,3 Of note, in our study, excluding patients who had used only multivitamins did not change the rate of use of complementary and alternative medicine by much. Many patients used multivitamins, but most also used another type of complementary and alternative medicine.…”

“…2,3 Although many studies of the use of these medicines have been conducted in adult patients with cardiac conditions, few data exist on their use in pediatric cardiology. In a Canadian study of patients with cardiovascular disease, 38% used vitamins and 17% used herbal products.…”

“…*Includes calcium-channel blockers and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. †Proton-pump inhibitors (2), domperidone (1), anticonvulsants (3), morphine (1), quetiapine (1), anti-asthmatic agents (2), epinephrine (1), sildenafil (1), psychostimulants (2), antidepressants (1), ursodeoxycholic acid (1), antihistamines (1), clonidine (1), laxatives (1), chemotherapeutics (2), glycopyrrolate (1), insulin (2).…”

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Males With Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy

“…3 Use of complementary and alternative medicine has also been reported in pediatric populations, [4][5][6][7][8][9] especially among children with chronic disease or disability. 4,10,11 Higher rates of use are reported in children with chronic conditions not amendable to surgical treatment (eg, cerebral palsy) 12 compared with those that can be surgically repaired (eg, cleft lip and/or palate). 10 Two Canadian studies that examined use of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric patients with neurologic disorders reported rates of 30% in patients with neuromuscular disease in general 13 and 20% in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.…”

“…4,10,11 Higher rates of use are reported in children with chronic conditions not amendable to surgical treatment (eg, cerebral palsy) 12 compared with those that can be surgically repaired (eg, cleft lip and/or palate). 10 Two Canadian studies that examined use of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric patients with neurologic disorders reported rates of 30% in patients with neuromuscular disease in general 13 and 20% in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 14 A variety of complementary and alternative therapies have been reported among pediatric populations, including chiropractic manipulation, herbal therapy, homeopathy, prayer, massage, special diets, megavitamins, acupuncture, and aquatherapy.…”