Paediatric use of CAM

Although there have been many surveys of adult CAM use, little is known about the use of CAM by children. US researchers have published research investigating the frequency, predictors and expenditures for the use of CAM in an insured paediatric population. After analysing the claims of two large insurance companies for 2002 they found that 6.2% of children had used an alternative professional during the year. They concluded that CAM use was more common among some children, depending on their sex, age, medical conditions and whether or not they had an adult family member who used CAM. Although use of chiropractic and massage was almost always for musculoskeletal complaints, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine filled a broader role.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005; 159: 367–72.