1. Table - Prevalence among pathology groups
The Effect Of Adjuvant Homeopathic Treatment In Patients Hospitalized In The Pediatrics Ward Lucas Franco Pacheco1; Francisco José De Freitas1; Débora Alves Fernandes1. 1.Universidade Federal Do Estado Do Rio De Janeiro (Federal University Of Rio De Janeiro) UNIRIO, Rio De Janeiro – RJ – Brazil th Congress Of The Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis
Introduction: This research has been developed since 2004 by Homeopathy and Complementary Therapeutics Department - DHTC (Departamento de Homeopatia e Terapêutica Complementar) of UNIRIO. A data collection was conducted on the most prevalent pathologies among children hospitalized in pediatrics ward of Gaffrée & Guinle University Hospital – HUGG (Hospital Universitário Gaffrée & Guinle). The purchase of previously selected medicines was possible due to a partnership with the homeopathic pharmacy of Fluminense Federal University (Universidade Federal Fluminense) – UFF.
Objective: This research aims at analyzing whether hospitalization period of patients has decreased with the use of homeopathy as an adjuvant medicine in the pediatrics ward of HUGG, during the period from April 01, 2009 to June 01, 2010, in comparison with patients hospitalized in the pediatrics wards of HUGG from January 01, 2007 to December 01, 2007, who had respiratory, gastrointestinal or skin-related diseases, comparing the hospitalization period between the two groups of the study, and analyzing the homeopathic medicines in use.
Methods: Cross-sectional study, with 202 patients, 58 of them being treated with homeopathy as an adjuvant treatment and 144 of them being treated with control, hospitalized in the pediatrics ward of HUGG, from January 01, 2007 to December 01, 2007 and April 01, 2009 to June 01, 2010, who had respiratory, gastrointestinal or skin-related diseases and, in the group receiving homeopathy as an adjuvant treatment, whose people in charge signed the informed consent form (ICF). People who did not sign the ICF or who did not have access to proper medication were excluded. The evaluation of clinical responses of patients to homeopathic treatment was conducted by comparing hospitalization period between the two groups (who received homeopathic medication and control group). This research was performed with individualized medication, depending on each specific sign and symptom of each patient. The approval by the Ethics and Research Committee (Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa (CEP/HUGG)) was in 2008; the field work was started in 2009 and was conducted until June The data collection of control group was performed by accessing the Medical Files and Statistics Service (Serviço de Arquivo Médico e Estatística (SAME)) of HUGG.
Results:
Table - Average and analysis of hospitalization - bronquiolitis and pneumonia
Average of hospitalization (days):
Control Group
Homeopathy Adjuvant Group
Average of hospitalization reduction
(Percentage)
Bronquiolitis
5.2 4
23.08%
Pneumonia
9.57
8.85
7.53%
Table - Prevalence among pathology groups
Gastrointestinal
Cutaneous
Respiratory
Total
Control Group
9 (6.25%)
14 (9.72%)
121 (8.02%)
144
Adjuvant Homeopathy
7 (12.06%)
8 (13.79%)
43 (74.13%) 58
16 (7.92%)
22 (10.89%)
164 (81.18%)
202
Among the patients hospitalized for pneumonia, the most prescribed medicine was:
Pulmo histaminum, followed by Antimonium tartaricum, Ipeca, Bryonia, Spongia tosta, Dulcamara, Pulsatilla, Allumina, Calcarea Phosphorica, Colocynthis, Blata orientalis, Grindelia Robusta, Sambucus, Arsenicum album, Baryta carbonica, cuprum metallicum, Nux Vomica, China officinalis, Chamomilla, Phosphorus, Natrum sulphuricum, Silicea, Kali carbonicum. Regarding the patients hospitalized for bronchiolitis, the most used medicines were: Pulsatilla, Ipeca, Kali carbonicum, Sabucus, Pulmo histaminum, Calcarea carbonica and Medorrhinum.
Conclusion: In this preliminary cross-sectional study a trend on the reduction of hospitalization time in the pediatrics ward of HUGG was noticed for patients who were receiving an adjuvant homeopathic medicine. This research may be an incentive for future scientific papers to be conducted in other institutions, extending the sample of patients in the research in order to make it statistically significant. It is also noticed that the group of patients hospitalized in the pediatrics ward of HUGG for respiratory pathologies is the most prevalent among the hospitalizations (81.18%). The most used medicine by the patients with respiratory pathologies was Pulmo histaminum (57.14%).