Echinacea Reduces Recurrence Of URIs In Children

A recent study has shown that Echinacea Purpurea helps reduce Upper Respitory Tract Infections (URI) in children.

Study

The aim of this study was to determine whether Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea) given to children for the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI) was effective in reducing the risk of subsequent URIs.

This was a secondary analysis of data from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Echinacea for the treatment of URI in children.

Participants

A total of 524 children ages 2 to 11 years were enrolled in the study and monitored for URIs over a four-month observation period during the fall/winters of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The children were randomised to receive Echinacea or placebo to treat acute URIs during the observation period.

Results

Among the 401 children with at least one URI treated with study medication, 69.2 per cent of those receiving placebo developed a second URI versus 55.8 per cent of those who received Echinacea. Use of Echinacea was associated with a 28 per cent decreased risk of subsequent URI.

Conclusion

Echinacea purpurea may be effective in reducing the occurrence of subsequent URis in children. However this finding needs to be replicated in a URI prevention trial.

References:

Weber. w.. J. A. Taylor. et 01. (2005). “Echinacea purpurea for prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children.” J Altem Complement Med 1 1 (6): 1021-6.