Evaluation of effectiveness of adjuvant remedies in treatment of allergic rhinitis in children

Abstract EN

Background: Homeopathy is one of the most popular of complementary and alternative therapies.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.

Methods: A prospective follow up study was conducted in National Research Center (NRC) from the first of March till the end of February, Patients aged between 6 and 12 years with allergic rhinitis were treated by homeopathic remedies.

Pediatric Rhinoconjuntivitis Quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), Allergic Rhinitis Nasal Symptoms Score (ARSS), drugs usage and nasal smear eosinophils were done for all Patients at baseline and again after three months.

Results: Fifty* three patients were screened, of whom 30 met the study eligibility criteria (average age 8.30± 2.322).

The mean RQLQ score was 4.44± 1.3 at baseline, after 3 months of treatment, the mean had fallen to 2.10± 1.66 (P< 0.001).

The mean overall total symptoms score decreased significantly from 9.23± 2.07 to 5.57+ 4.07 (P< 0.001).

Also, significant reduction in number of patients with positive nasal smears to 43.3% after homeopathic treatment (P< 0.001) Conclusions: After homeopathic treatment, patients reported an improvement of their symptoms of allergic rhinitis as reported in Pediatric Rhinoconjuntivitis Quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), Allergic Rhinitis Nasal Symptoms Score (ARSS) and nasal smear eosinophils.

Recommendation: A formal randomized clinical trial is required.