A prospective multicentric observational study to determine the usefulness of predefined homoeopathic medicines in the management of acute diarrheal disease in children

Abstract

Background & objectives: Acute diarrheal disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. No data regarding the pediatric population suffering from acute diarrhea seeking homoeopathic treatment in India are available. Therefore, an observational study on acute diarrheal diseases in children was undertaken with fourteen predefined trial homoeopathic medicines in an effort to identify a group of homeopathic medicines useful for the treatment of acute childhood diarrhea. Methods: A prospective multi-center observational study was conducted by the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy at its various Institutes and Units throughout India during October 2005- September 2008. A total of three hundred twenty seven children in the age group 6 months to 12 years were included. Trial medicines selected on the principles of homeopathy were prescribed and the diarrhea index score was assessed before and after treatment using SPSS(version 16). Result: The difference in the mean number of stools and diarrhea index score was found to be statistically significant (p=0.000,< 0.05) after the prescription of trial homoeopathic medicines in 321 children. The diarrhea index score got either worsened or remained unchanged from the baseline score in 6 (1.83%) children of the 14 medicines half of them, viz., Podophyllum peltatum (n=158), Chamomilla (n= 49), Aethusa cynapium (n=25), Mercurius solubilis (n=23), Calcarea carbonica (n=21), Sulphur (n=18) and Phosphorus (n=17) were found to be most useful among the 14 predefined trial medicines. Conclusion: This was a:n observational study with positive result requiring further validation by suitable randomized control trial(s)