[Use of herbal medicine in German children - prevalence, indications and motivation].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Herbal medicine (phytotherapy) is increasingly used by the German population. But its use for children has been rarely analysed. This study determined prevalence, motivations and indications for the use of herbal medicine use. It also investigated parent-related variables associated with its use.

METHODS

An anonymized questionnaire was filled in by parents of children and adolescents who attended the general pediatric out-patient department of two German university children's hospitals and the practice of two general pediatricians.

RESULTS

413 of 600 parents (68.8%) completed the questionnaire. Mean age of the children was 6.7 +/- 4.7 years. 353 (85.5%) were given one or more herbal products, chamomile (85.5%), fennel (81.3%), eucalyptus (43.9%). Bronchipret 43.1%) (thyme and primrose [tablets] or thyme with ivy [syrup] and Prospan (43.1%) (a syrup of ivy leaf extract) were the most commonly used, in the treatment of cough. Parents who give phytotherapeuticals to their children were significantly more often women, living in a large city, of good education and financially better off (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Herbal medicine is widely used in Germany during childhood and adolescence. To achieve high therapeutic safety it is important to ask parents explicitly about such use.