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Acupuncture for mumps in children
Jing He1, Min Zheng, Mingming Zhang
1Rehabilitation and Acupuncture Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Background:
Mumps is an acute, viral illness transmitted by respiratory droplets and saliva. A number of studies published in China have suggested that acupuncture is beneficial for children with mumps but the literature reporting the benefits or harms of acupuncture for mumps has not been systematically reviewed.
Objectives:
To determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for children with mumps.
Search Methods:
We searched CENTRAL (2012, Issue 4), MEDLINE (1950 to April week 4, 2012), EMBASE (1974 to May 2012), CINAHL (1981 to May 2012), AMED (1985 to May 2012), the Chinese BioMedicine Database (CBM) (1979 to May 2012), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (1979 to May 2012), Chinese Technology Periodical Database (CTPD) (1989 to May 2012) and WANFANG database (1982 to May 2012). We also handsearched a number of journals (from first issue to current issue).
Selection Criteria:
We included randomised controlled trials comparing acupuncture with placebo acupuncture, no management, Chinese medication, Western medication or other treatments for mumps. Acupuncture included either traditional acupuncture or contemporary acupuncture, regardless of the source of stimulation (body, electro, scalp, fire, hand, fine needle, moxibustion).
Data Collection And Analysis:
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. We calculated risk ratios (RR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the effective percentage and standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs for the time to cure.
Main Results:
Only one study with 239 participants met our inclusion criteria. There were a total of 120 participants in the acupuncture group, of which 106 recovered, with their temperature returning back to normal and no swelling or pain of the parotid gland; the condition of 14 participants improved, with a drop in temperature and alleviation of swelling or pain of the parotid gland. There were 119 participants in the Western medicine group, of which 56 recovered and the condition of 63 improved. The acupuncture group had a higher recovery rate than the control group. The relative RR of recovery was 1.88 (95% CI 1.53 to 2.30). However, the acupuncture group had a longer time to cure than the control group. The mean was 4.20 days and the standard deviation (SD) was 0.46 in the acupuncture group, while in the control group the mean was 3.78 days and the SD was 0.46.There was a potential risk of bias in the study because of low methodological quality.
Authors' Conclusions:
We could not reach any confident conclusions about the efficacy and safety of acupuncture based on one study. More high-quality research is needed.
Insights
Acupuncture may improve mumps recovery rates in children, but evidence is limited. One study showed higher recovery with acupuncture, though it took longer to cure. More research is needed for definitive conclusions.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mumps is a viral illness spread through respiratory droplets and saliva.
- Previous studies suggest acupuncture may benefit children with mumps.
- A systematic review of acupuncture's efficacy and safety for mumps is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating mumps in children.
Main Methods:
- Searched multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) and handsearched journals for relevant studies.
- Included randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with placebo, no treatment, or other medications for mumps.
- Extracted data and assessed study quality, calculating risk ratios for recovery and standardized mean differences for time to cure.
Main Results:
- One study with 239 participants met the inclusion criteria.
- The acupuncture group showed a higher recovery rate (RR 1.88) compared to the Western medicine group.
- The acupuncture group had a longer time to cure (mean 4.20 days) than the control group (mean 3.78 days).
- The included study had a potential risk of bias due to low methodological quality.
Conclusions:
- Conclusions on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for mumps cannot be confidently drawn from this single study.
- Further high-quality research is required to establish the benefits and risks of acupuncture for mumps treatment.
