Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among pediatric specialty outpatients. The most commonly used CAM products were vitamins/minerals (85.0%), herbal remedies (15.6%), and homeopathics (11.5%). The most commonly used CAM practices were massage (39.1%), faith healing (27.1%), chiropractic (20.3%), aromatherapy (16.1%), and relaxation (16.1%).
Most parents assessed CAM as being helpful and reported only a few or minor adverse effects. The survey identified 80 adverse events, and parents reported 55 (68.8%) of these events as minor. Adverse events were reported in all specialty clinics: cardiology (13/176 respondents), gastrointestinal (29/214 respondents), neurology (22/205 respondents), oncology (7/129 respondents), and respiratory (9/202 respondents).
The authors found that use of natural health products is far more common than seeing an actual CAM provider.
Although most parents feel comfortable discussing CAM in their pediatric clinic, the survey revealed that that 19.4% of parents who use CAM with traditional medicine do not discuss their CAM use with physicians or pharmacists.
Pediatrics. Published January 14, 2013.
Monday, January 28, 2013
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