Alharbi Nasser S, Alenizi Ahmed S, Al-Olayan Abudllah M, Alobaidi Nadhar A, Algrainy Alanood M, Bahadhailah Amani O, Alhunayni Abdulaziz A, Alqurashi Hashim D, Alrohaimi Yousef A
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Saud Medical City, Children Hospital, Al Imam Abdul Aziz Ibn Muhammad Ibn Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sudan J Paediatr. 2018;18(2):20-24. doi: 10.24911/SJP.106-1538457624.
The current study aims to evaluate the prevalence of the utilization of various herbal remedies in children hospitalized with lower respiratory illnesses and assess the different herbal products which are most commonly used. Moreover, the indications of usage and the route and frequency of administration are also highlighted. All children who were hospitalized in three centers, through the period of 18 months, due to acute bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or bronchial asthma were included in this study. Any caregivers who were present during the hospitalization of such children were asked if they could respond to a questionnaire that included the names of any herbal products that they used, the indications which warranted their usage, and the frequency and route of administration. A total of 155 patients with acute lower respiratory illnesses were included. The overall prevalence of herbal medicine use was found to be 59.3%. The highest percentage of use was amongst children with bronchiolitis. Around 24 herbal products were used; the most common ones being sesame oil, fenugreek, olive oil, and dates. The most common indications of use were in order to relieve cough and abnormal breathing. The oral route was the main route of administration (95.7%) followed by nasal administration (4.3%). The median number of frequency of administration was two times. In conclusion, the use of herbal medicine in Saudi children with acute lower respiratory illnesses is very common. Further studies to assess the safety profile and possible benefits of these products are needed.
本研究旨在评估因下呼吸道疾病住院的儿童使用各种草药疗法的流行情况，并评估最常用的不同草药产品。此外，还强调了使用指征以及给药途径和频率。本研究纳入了在18个月期间因急性细支气管炎、肺炎或支气管哮喘在三个中心住院的所有儿童。询问了这些儿童住院期间在场的任何护理人员是否能回答一份问卷，问卷内容包括他们使用的任何草药产品的名称、使用这些产品的指征以及给药频率和途径。总共纳入了155例急性下呼吸道疾病患者。发现草药使用的总体流行率为59.3%。使用率最高的是患有细支气管炎的儿童。大约使用了24种草药产品；最常见的是芝麻油、胡芦巴、橄榄油和枣。最常见的使用指征依次是缓解咳嗽和异常呼吸。口服是主要给药途径（95.7%），其次是鼻腔给药（4.3%）。给药频率的中位数是两次。总之，沙特患有急性下呼吸道疾病的儿童使用草药疗法非常普遍。需要进一步研究来评估这些产品的安全性和可能的益处。
