BACKGROUND: Acupoint herbal patching (AHP) has been used for recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI) in children. This systematic review aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of AHP in pediatric RRTI.
METHODS: Eleven databases were comprehensively searched up to January 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using AHP as a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients with RRTI were included.
RESULTS: Twenty-two RCTs with 3579 participants were included. Meta-analyses showed that outbreaks and disease duration of respiratory tract infection (RTI) per year significantly decreased in the AHP group compared with the placebo group, when follow-up was conducted after 1, 2, or 3 years. Moreover, AHP as a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy significantly decreased outbreaks and disease duration of RTI without serious adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS: This review provides promising evidence that AHP may reduce the frequency and duration of RTI and improve immune function in pediatric patients with RRTI.