Echinacea Purpurea and Osteopathy in Children With Recurrent Otitis Media

NCT ID: NCT00689468

Last Updated: 2008-06-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

1999-07-31

Study Completion Date

2002-10-31

Brief Summary

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This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the herb Echinacea purpurea and of cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment to prevent otitis media (middle ear infections) in young children.

Detailed Description

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The use of complementary and alternative therapies by parents of young children remains common despite the lack of clinical trials demonstrating either the efficacy or safety of these treatments. Two of the more common complementary therapies used in young children with a history of recurrent otitis media are preparations of the herb Echinacea purpurea and cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment. This study represents one of the first double-blinded, placebo controlled trials of each approach in a population of young children who presented with three or more recent episodes of acute otitis media.

Conditions

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Otitis Media

Keywords

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Otitis media Echinacea Osteopathic Medicine

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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1

Osteopathic sham treatment plus placebo "Echinacea" drops

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Sham osteopathic manipulative treatment

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Sham osteopathic treatment consisted of a series of five osteopathic examinations only (palpation of the cranial bones and muscles and other structures) without treatment maneuvers.

"Echinacea purpurea" placebo

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

An identically labeled placebo contained 50% ethanol, 45% filtered water, food coloring and thickeners. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

2

Active Echinacea drops plus sham osteopathic treatment

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Echinacea purpurea

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

1:1 weight-to-volume 50% ethanol liquid extract of the fresh roots and dried mature seeds of Echinacea purpurea. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

Sham osteopathic manipulative treatment

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Sham osteopathic treatment consisted of a series of five osteopathic examinations only (palpation of the cranial bones and muscles and other structures) without treatment maneuvers.

3

Active osteopathic manipulation plus placebo "Echinacea" drops

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A series of five cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment sessions scheduled over three months, and provided by osteopathic physicians whose practices are limited to osteopathic manipulative treatment. Treatment modalities were limited to cranial osteopathy, balanced membranous/ligamentous tension, and/or myofascial release (applied directly or indirectly).

"Echinacea purpurea" placebo

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

An identically labeled placebo contained 50% ethanol, 45% filtered water, food coloring and thickeners. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

4

Active osteopathic manipulation plus active Echinacea drops.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A series of five cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment sessions scheduled over three months, and provided by osteopathic physicians whose practices are limited to osteopathic manipulative treatment. Treatment modalities were limited to cranial osteopathy, balanced membranous/ligamentous tension, and/or myofascial release (applied directly or indirectly).

Echinacea purpurea

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

1:1 weight-to-volume 50% ethanol liquid extract of the fresh roots and dried mature seeds of Echinacea purpurea. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

Interventions

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Cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment.

A series of five cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment sessions scheduled over three months, and provided by osteopathic physicians whose practices are limited to osteopathic manipulative treatment. Treatment modalities were limited to cranial osteopathy, balanced membranous/ligamentous tension, and/or myofascial release (applied directly or indirectly).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Echinacea purpurea

1:1 weight-to-volume 50% ethanol liquid extract of the fresh roots and dried mature seeds of Echinacea purpurea. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Sham osteopathic manipulative treatment

Sham osteopathic treatment consisted of a series of five osteopathic examinations only (palpation of the cranial bones and muscles and other structures) without treatment maneuvers.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

"Echinacea purpurea" placebo

An identically labeled placebo contained 50% ethanol, 45% filtered water, food coloring and thickeners. Dosage: 0.5 ml orally 3 times daily for 3 days at the onset of cold symptoms, followed by 0.25 ml orally 3 times daily for 7 more days.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 3 or more separate episodes of acute otitis media within a 6 month period, or
* 4 episodes of acute otitis media in one year,

Exclusion Criteria

* Congenital malformations of the ears, nose, or throat
* Known or suspected allergy to echinacea
* Immune deficiency including HIV infection
* Tuberculosis
* Current use of prophylactic antibiotics
* Tympanostomy tubes in place
* Unwillingness of child to participate
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Months

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Arizona

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona

Principal Investigators

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Richard A Wahl, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Arizona

Michael B Aldous, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Arizona

Locations

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Pediatric Osteopathic Center

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status

KateCare Osteopathic Center

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Pediatric Clinic, Arizona Health Sciences Center

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Mark JD, Grant KL, Barton LL. The use of dietary supplements in pediatrics: a study of echinacea. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2001 May;40(5):265-9. doi: 10.1177/000992280104000505.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11388676 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NIH P50 HL61212-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

Arizona HSC #98-83

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id