Evaluation de l'efficacite du Blatta orientalis en prophylaxie et dans le traitement de l'asthme chez les enfants

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Blatta orientalis in the prevention and treatment of infantile asthma

This article describes a pilot study investigating the prevention and treatment of infantile asthma with the remedy Blatta orientalis. Children of both sexes up to twelve years of age were included in the study, who had had at least three attacks of bronchial spasm at intervals of not more than four months, or who had presented with a constant wheezing with or without an attack for at least two months. The study lasted for twelve months. Two tablets of the remedy in 3D potency were routinely administered 3 times a day to each patient for the duration of treatment. In the event of an attack, two tablets of Blatta orientalis D2 were administered every thirty minutes with decreasing frequency as symptoms eased. Patients were allowed to continue their conventional treatment but were advised to reduce the dosage as their symptoms improved. Intensity of attacks was measured according to the following criteria: a weak attack was avaluated as one which was ameliorated by oral medication such as the remedy or bronchodilators; a moderate attack would require a bronchodilator inhaler and/or adrenalin injection; an intense attack would require corticosteroids or hospitalisation. Results pertaining to frequency of attacks were calculated by finding the total sum of each patient's monthly attacks and dividing it by the number of patients studied during that month. Results showed that there was a drop in the average frequency of attacks from 3.27 +/- 7.23 in the period before the use of the remedy to 0.97 +/- 1.11 after one month and 0.74 +/- 1.18 after two months. These results were statistically significant. Results pertaining to intensity of attacks showed a decrease in intensity over the first two months which was also statistically significant. The authors conclude that this study demonstrates the activity of homoeopathic dilutions even if the treatment approach itself does not adhere to Hahnemannian principles.