Acupuncture for Acute Viral Lower Respiratory Infection in Hospitalized Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Acute viral respiratory infections are among the most common causes of hospitalization in the pediatric population. The usual presentation of viral respiratory tract infections (VRTI) includes fever, malaise, wheezing and or coughing, rhinorrhea and loss of appetite. Up to 50% of children will have at least one viral-induced wheezing illness by school age. Currently treatment of VRTI is essentially supportive and no specific and efficient treatments are known. Given the lack of effective medications, current treatment for severe viral lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants relies on supportive measures only. These measures include supplementation of oxygen, monitoring of apnea, nasal/gastric tube feeding or intravenous fluids, and, if required, respiratory support with nasal bi-level positive-airway pressure. VTRI therefore represent an important unmet need for improved treatment strategies. Acupuncture's effect on has also been studied. Acupuncture has been shown to be a safe and effective in various respiratory tract inflammations. A review published in 2011 have found that acupuncture is safe for pediatric patients. Acupuncture's effect on acute viral induced wheezing and cough in hospitalized children has yet to be studied. Since the current standard of care is supportive care only, using acupuncture as an additional treatment may provide benefit in reducing wheezing, respiratory distress, and shorten hospitalization.

Official Title
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Acupuncture for Acute Viral Lower Respiratory Infection in Hospitalized Children: A Single Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Viral Respiratory Tract Infection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: acupuncture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The presence of acute viral respiratory disease Exclusion Criteria: Evidence of chronic cardio-pulmonary disease, immune-suppression or any chronic systemic disease or disability

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Months
Maximum Age: 36 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: acupuncture<br>acupuncture treatment with Supportive care | Other: acupuncture<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: standard treatment<br>Supportive care measures only | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| presence of fever |  | 5 days | 
| presence of cough |  | 5 days | 
| presence of rhinitis |  | 5 days | 
| symptoms of pharyngitis |  | 5 days | 
| presence of crepitations |  | 5 days | 
| presence of dyspnea or tachypnea | respiratory rate | 5 days | 
| oxygen saturation | measured by (SpO2) | 5 days |