What can be achieved by using acupuncture and related techniques as well as diatetics and Chinese herbal and drug therapy in paediatrics?

Objective: To reach a consensus in the use of acupuncture and related techniques as well as dietetics and Chinese herbal therapy for pediatric illnesses. Methods: 40 specialists in Chinese Medicine in paediatrics were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the above-mentioned techniques for a given number of indications. Evaluation was classified in a threefold way: useful, less useful or not useful. Further questions referred to specific diagnostic and therapeutic modes as well as to studies in this field. Results: Seven paediatricians returned the questionnaire. The list of indications was extended to 22, mainly for indications rated as "less useful." The answers were fairly consistent for paediatric disturbances such as headache, abdominal pain and allergic diseases, and less consistent for only seven out of 22 indications. Most evaluations were based on personal experience, and less on the limited amount of controlled studies in the paediatric field. Discussion: Differences in evaluation may be due to the different therapeutic focus in the applied techniques. Therapeutic procedures varied the most, when therapy was based on the complementary use of Chinese herbal therapy and Western medicine. A comparison between the techniques applied is hardly possible due to the the different stages of chronicity of the diseases in different clinics. Conclusions: This study produced a rather homogenous consensus with regard to the effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques as well as dietetics and traditional Chinese herbal therapy in paediatrics based on expert evaluation (EBM-level IV). Expert opinion is supported by studies (in part EBM-level I and II)