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Echinacea Fails to Treat Kids' Colds: Presented at PAS

By Roberta Friedman, PhD

SEATTLE, WA -- May 7, 2003 -- The herbal agent Echinacea was not able to cut the severity or duration of upper respiratory infections in children, according to data reported here May 4^th at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

"We cannot recommend Echinacea for upper respiratory infections in children at this time" due to the lack of effect in the large, randomised, controlled trial, said presenter James Taylor, MD, from the department of pediatrics, University of Washington in Seattle.

A non-alcohol extract of the plant was tested against a matched placebo in 524 children. Three centers participated in the trial, including investigators at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington.

Investigators confirmed 759 colds and obtained 707 completed patient log books. Patients and parents reported daily symptoms on a 4-point Likert Scale. Times of medication and instances of fever were also recorded. Duration of symptoms also comprised part of the primary outcome of the trial.

Of the 524 kids, 265 received placebo. Treatment was administered twice daily.

Mean duration of symptoms for both groups was 9 days, and median symptom severity that did not differ between groups.

Fever lasted 0.81 days for kids taking Echinacea and 0.64 days for placebo. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.09).

Rash was the only adverse effect evident, with a greater frequency among children taking Echinacea (7.1% vs. 2.7%, P=.008). "We thought vomiting or stomachache might be higher in the Echinacea treated" children instead, said Dr. Taylor. The nature of these rashes was not recorded, as they were not anticipated.

Kids given Echinacea had fewer second and third colds following treatment as compared to those given the placebo, and "this deserves further study," Dr. Taylor said.

Dr. Taylor said the twice-daily treatment frequency in the study was less than some preparations recommend. A limitation of the study is the fact that this is a plant extract, with possible species as well as regimen differences, Dr. Taylor noted.


[Study title: The Efficacy and Safety of Echinacea in Treating Colds in Children. Abstract: 1158.]

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