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Updated: May 6, 2026
Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
Efficacy of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis in children: Systematic review and meta‑analysis with trial sequential
Qinwen Xiao1,2, Zhichao Ni3, Rongyu Wang1,2
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Insights
Acupuncture shows promise for treating allergic rhinitis in children, especially when combined with medication. Further high-quality research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and optimal use.
Area of Science:
- Integrative and Complementary Medicine
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Allergic rhinitis (AR) significantly impacts children's quality of life.
- Previous studies suggest acupuncture's efficacy for AR, but evidence in pediatric populations is limited.
- This study aims to evaluate acupuncture's effectiveness in children with AR through meta-analysis and trial sequence analysis.
Approach:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across eight databases up to August 27, 2023.
- Included randomized controlled trials compared acupuncture (alone or with drugs) against medication for pediatric AR.
- Primary outcome was total nasal symptom score (TNSS); secondary outcomes included serum IgE and relapse rates.
Key Points:
- Acupuncture alone showed no significant difference compared to medication for pediatric AR (p=0.13).
- Acupuncture combined with medication demonstrated significant efficacy over medication alone (p<0.00001).
- Acupuncture therapy resulted in a lower relapse rate compared to medication alone (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture, particularly in combination with medication, appears efficacious for managing allergic rhinitis in children.
- The overall quality of evidence is currently low, necessitating further high-quality trials.
- Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and extended treatment durations to strengthen conclusions.
Background:
Acupuncture has been shown for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in previous studies. Nevertheless, relevant evidence was lacked for paediatric patients with allergic rhinitis. We aim to validate the efficacy of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis in children by meta-analysis and trial sequence analysis.
Method:
Comprehensive search of eight databases were conducted until August 27, 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture alone or in combination with drugs versus medication in children with AR were included. The primary outcome was total nasal symptom score (TNSS). The secondary outcomes were serum immunoglobulin E levels, and relapse rates.
Results:
Thirteen studies involving 1186 participants were included. In results, acupuncture group (AC group) versus medication group (Med group) shows no significant difference in the treatment of AR in children (risk ratio [RR] = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.97 to 1.24, p = 0.13), while TSA suggested the included sample size did not exceed required information size (RIS). Significant differences were found between the AC + Med group versus the Med group (RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.42, p < 0.00001), with sufficient sample size. Results in serum IgE after treatment which favored the Med group (MD = 51.94, 95% CI [22.24, 81.65], p = 0.0006). In terms of relapse rate, The AC group had a lower relapse rate than the Med group (RR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.26-0.63, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Acupuncture is an efficacious treatment for allergic rhinitis in children, but this conclusion might be limited by the generally low quality of evidence. TSA suggested additional high-quality trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations were needed.
