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FACT
Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Complementary Medicine - General

Children’s CAM use

Parents accompanying children to their appointments in outpatient gastroenterology clinics were asked to complete a questionnaire in order to determine usage of probiotic and alternative therapies. Questions also ascertained relevant background information and parental acceptance of alternative therapies. Ninety-two questionnaires were completed. The ages of the children varied from 6 months to 16 years (mean ± SD: 6.5 ± 4.3 years) and they had been prescribed an average of 1.7 ± 1.3 (range 0–6) conventional medications. Thirty-three (35.9%) were taking CAM and 98.6% of parents answered that they would be prepared to administer CAM to their child. Symptomatic improvements were attributed to CAM by the parents of 24 out of 33 children given these therapies. In addition, probiotic therapies were used by 23.8% of children, and 93.0% of parents would administer probiotic agents if recommended for their child’s condition.

Day AS. Use of complementary and alternative therapies and probiotic agents by children attending gastroenterology outpatient clinics. J Paediatr Child Health 2002; 38: 343–6. [Abstract]
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