Does treatment with Echinacea purpurea effectively shorten the course of upper respiratory tract infections in children?
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Report By: K Koenig and C C Roehr - tbc
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Search checked by Bob Phillips - Section Editor, Archimedes, Archives of Disease in Childhood
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Institution: Children's Hospital, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Date Submitted: 24th May 2006
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Date Completed: 26th May 2006
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Last Modified: 24th May 2006
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Status:
Green (complete)
Three Part Question
In [children with upper respiratory tract infection] is treatment with [Echinacea purpurea] effective for [alleviating symptoms and shortening the course of URTI]?Clinical Scenario
You are a paediatric specialist registrar on a Sunday late shift in the accident and emergency department. A 4 year old boy presents with a two day history of fever (maximum temperature 38.8°C) and clinical signs of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). At home, his mother gave regular paracetamol to treat his fever and extracts from ivy to alleviate the cough. She asks you about Echinacea purpurea therapy for her son's illness.
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