RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a positive treatment effect of individualized homeopathic treatment for acute childhood diarrhea, but sample sizes were small and results were just at or near the level of statistical significance. Because all three studies followed the same basic study design, the combined data from these three studies were analyzed to obtain greater statistical power. METHODS: Three double blind clinical trials of diarrhea in 242 children ages 6 months to 5 years were analyzed as 1 group. Children were randomized to receive either an individualized homeopathic medicine or placebo to be taken as a single dose after each unformed stool for 5 days. Parents recorded daily stools on diary cards, and health workers made home visits daily to monitor children. The duration of diarrhea was defined as the time until there were less than 3 unformed stools per day for 2 consecutive days. A metaanalysis of the effect-size difference of the three studies was also conducted. RESULTS: Combined analysis shows a duration of diarrhea of 3.3 days in the homeopathy group compared with 4.1 in the placebo group (P = 0.008). The metaanalysis shows a consistent effect-size difference of approximately 0.66 day (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The results from these studies confirm that individualized homeopathic treatment decreases the duration of acute childhood diarrhea and suggest that larger sample sizes be used in future homeopathic research to ensure adequate statistical power. Homeopathy should be considered for use as an adjunct to oral rehydration for this illness.
Assuntos
Diarreia/diagnóstico , Diarreia/terapia , Homeopatia/métodos , Pré-Escolar , Terapia Combinada , Diarreia/mortalidade , Diarreia Infantil/diagnóstico , Diarreia Infantil/mortalidade , Diarreia Infantil/terapia , Método Duplo-Cego , Feminino , Hidratação/métodos , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Probabilidade , Prognóstico , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Soluções para Reidratação/administração & dosagem , Medição de Risco , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Análise de Sobrevida , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Actualmente se cuestiona el uso de antibioticos en el tratamiento inicial de otitis media aguda. Aunque historicamente la homeopatia se emplea en esta enfermedad, no existen ensayos metodologicamente rigurosos para determinar...
Assuntos
Otite Média , Terapêutica HomeopáticaRESUMO
Actualmente se cuestiona el uso de antibioticos en el tratamiento inicial de otitis media aguda. Aunque historicamente la homeopatia se emplea en esta enfermedad, no existen ensayos metodologicamente rigurosos para determinar... (AU)
Assuntos
Otite Média , Terapêutica HomeopáticaRESUMO
A double-blind, randomized clinical trial to compare homoeopathic treatment versus placebo in the treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea was carried out in Leon, Nicaragua, in July 1990. 34 children aged 6 months to 5 years were randomized into active and placebo groups, both of which also received oral rehydration treatment. The mean duration of diarrhoea after treatment in the active group was 2.4 days, compared to 3.0 days in the placebo group, which was not statistically significant. Exploratory analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease (p=0.04) in the subgroup of patients for which an aetiological agent was found. There was also a significant difference in number of stools per day in the treated group (p=0.002) at the end of the treatment period. Since small numbers prevent a definitive conclusion from this study, further study with a larger sample size would seem appropriate
