Does additional antimicrobial treatment have a better effect on URTI cough resolution than homeopathic symptomatic therapy alone? A real-life preliminary observational study in a pediatric population

• Published in: Multidisciplinary respiratory medicine 2015-08, Vol.10
• Main Authors: Zanasi, Alessandro, Cazzato, Salvatore, Mazzolini, Massimiliano, Ierna, Carla Maria Sofia, Mastroroberto, Marianna, Nardi, Elena, Morselli-Labate, Antonio Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1828-695X; 2049-6958
• DOI: 10.4081/mrm.2015.307

Background. The effectiveness of a homeopathic syrup on cough has been demonstrated in an adult population in a previous double-blind randomized study. The present prospective observational study investigated children affected by wet acute cough caused by non-complicated URTIs, comparing those who received the homeopathic syrup versus those treated with the homeopathic syrup plus antibiotic. Objectives. The aims were: 1) to assess whether the addition of antibiotics to a symptomatic treatment had a role in reducing the severity and duration of acute cough in a pediatric population, as well as in improving cough resolution; 2) to verify the safety of the two treatments. Methods. Eighty-five children were enrolled in an open study: 46 children received homeopathic syrup alone for 10 days and 39 children received homeopathic syrup for 10 days plus oral antibiotic treatment (amoxicillin/clavulanate, clarithromycin, and erythromycin) for 7 days. To assess cough severity we used a subjective verbal category-descriptive (VCD) scale. Results. Cough VCD score was significantly (P