Homoeopathic treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children: evaluation of thirty case series

Abstract

A pilot study of the homoeopathic treatment of recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) in children below the age of 5 years was carried out using the data consisting of detailed case series with before and after comparison in respect of 30 patients collected during 2006. The study was carried out as part of a research project at a private Homoeopathic Medical College and Post-Graduate Institute. The number of attacks of the URTIs during the 6 months period preceding the date of commencement of the homoeopathic treatment (Control value) and 6 months period following the date of commencement of treatment (Treatment value) were compared. The results of the study indicated statistically significant differences (p<0.001%, t-test and Wilcoxon non-parametric test) in the two data sets in favour of homoeopathic treated cases. The results of the study indicate the utility of the homoeopathic remedies prescribed based on the concept of individualisation in the treatment of URTIs in children vis-à-vis improving the prescribing skills particularly with respect to the process of selection and types of medicines.