Abstract

Aim

To study the socio-demographic features of the paediatric population treated at the Homeopathic Clinic – Hospital of Lucca (Italy), the observed diseases, the most commonly used remedies, outcome and follow-up of children, in particular with respiratory disease.

Materials and methods

An observational longitudinal study was carried out on a total of 2141 patients consecutively examined from 1998 to 2008. We describe the characteristics of paediatric patients (<14 years): sex, age, whether or not they have already used conventional and/or homeopathic therapies, existing disease and follow-up. The outcome was assessed using the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital Outcome Score (GHHOS).

Results

Paediatric patients were 551 (mean age 5.9 years), representing 25.7% of all patients. Respiratory diseases were present in 337 children, of whom 168 came to at least one follow-up visit. Respiratory infections (337 cases; 61%), followed by dermatological (88 cases; 16%), psychological (45; 8%) and digestive (40; 7%) disorders were the most frequently observed diseases; 68% of children with respiratory disease showed a strong improvement or attained a resolution of their problems.

Discussion

The likelihood of considerable improvement or resolution of symptoms is significantly higher in patients with problems in the upper respiratory tract (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.6–11.4) and in patients with follow-up of at least 12 months. Therefore, type of disease and follow-up duration were the variables that most strongly affected the probability of success of homeopathic treatment.

Conclusion

The results seem to confirm that homeopathic medicine produces a positive therapeutic response particularly in children presenting respiratory diseases.