We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The Use of Alternative Medicine in Pediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.
- Authors
Hughes, R.; Ward, D.; Tobin, A. M.; Keegan, K.; Kirby, B.
- Abstract
Alternative medicine has been defined as forms of therapy or examination that have no scientific basis and for which no effective or diagnostic reliability has been demonstrated by scientific methods. The use of complementary or alternative medicine is increasing and controlled clinical trials on the subject are few. We performed a questionnaire-based study of 80 pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. This questionnaire assessed the duration of treatment, the reason(s) for trying alternative therapy, the approximate cost and the success of the treatment, the duration of the childhood eczema, and whether the child had ever required hospital admission for eczema. Of the total, 34 (42.5%) patients had used alternative medicine. Herbal remedies and homeopathy were used most often. Most treatments were reported to show no benefit and in three instances deterioration was reported. This study has prompted us to enquire routinely regarding alternative medicine use. Alternative therapies are subject to minimal regulation and have been associated with serious side effects. We would recommend enquiries regarding alternative medicine use in all pediatric dermatology patients.
- Subjects
ALTERNATIVE medicine; ATOPIC dermatitis; THERAPEUTICS; ALLERGIES; SCIENTIFIC method
- Publication
Pediatric Dermatology, 2007, Vol 24, Issue 2, p118
- ISSN
0736-8046
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1525-1470.2007.00355.x