Clinical acupuncture therapy for children with allergic rhinitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

Jun Li1, Lanhua Liu, Lin Jiao

  • 1The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.

Medicine
|February 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This systematic review evaluates acupuncture for treating allergic rhinitis (AR) in children, offering a non-drug therapy option. Evidence suggests acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric AR.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  • Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

  • Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a growing concern in children, with parents seeking alternatives to drug therapies due to side effects.
  • Acupuncture is increasingly recognized for its potential efficacy in managing pediatric AR.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for treating allergic rhinitis in children.
  • To evaluate acupuncture as a non-pharmacological intervention for pediatric AR.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase, CBM, CNKI, etc.) up to November 2020.
  • Inclusion of randomized clinical trials, with data extraction and quality assessment by independent reviewers.
  • Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4.0, employing fixed or random effects models based on heterogeneity testing (P < 0.1, I² > 50%).

Main Results:

  • The review will synthesize current evidence on acupuncture's efficacy in pediatric AR.
  • Key outcomes include total effective rate, symptom scores (nasal, RQLQ, VAS), laboratory markers (IgE, IL6, IL10, TNF-α), recurrence rates, and adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • This systematic review aims to determine if acupuncture can serve as a viable non-drug therapy for preventing or treating allergic rhinitis in children.
  • Findings will inform clinical practice regarding acupuncture's role in pediatric AR management.
Abstract

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